The Jawoyn Association has expanded its ranger program to include the Mangarrayi rangers in the Roper River region, about 150 kilometres south-east of Katherine.

The move comes after the ranger group called for external support to access much-needed funding and secure their future.

The Federal Government announced in August it would fund 980-thousand dollars over three years for Jawoyn to manage the Mangarrayi rangers.

“The Jawoyn Association is proud to expand its ranger program and support the Mangarrayi rangers in all their good work on country,” Jawoyn board chairperson Lisa Mumbin says.

“It means four rangers from Jilkminggan community remain employed and we’ve moved to hire an additional ranger for the team.”

The association intends to establish a much-needed ranger base.

“We’ve had space to store equipment and gear, but having an official base and office is going to be great – for the team and the broader community,” Mangarrayi ranger supervisor Joel Stacey says.

It’s hoped the base will be established in early 2019.

Established almost a decade ago, the rangers manage the Mangarrayi Aboriginal Land Trust and the Roper River corridor.

The team’s focus is land, fire and water management, weed reduction and feral animal eradication.

They also partner with government agencies to conduct important fish and water monitoring in the Roper river.