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The Ranger life for me – Cedric Ankin

13 December 2019
Community Maningrida
Jobs, Land and Economy
Young Aboriginal man dressed in work wear holds a tool to pump up a black tyre on a heavy machine.

Cedric Ankin is training to be a ranger, a job he’s wanted since high school.

If you can get a job you enjoy and work with people you like, then you are a long way along the road to a happy life.

Cedric Ankin wanted to be a ranger since high school. Through the Learning on Country Program taught at Maningrida Community College, he recently transitioned into the Bawinanga Djelk Rangers.

‘It took me since Grade 9 middle years until now, after completing my Certificate I in Conservation and Land Management,’ Cedric said.

‘I found it easy but also there was a lot of hard work.’

Cedric continues to study for his Certificate II in Conservation and Land Management. He is enjoying his traineeship and particularly the chance to drive the tractor and talk about native plants and animals.

Loved by his fellow rangers, Cedric said he always likes working with them and is excited being part of a team.

His duties include organising the ranger equipment, preparing pesticides and assisting the rangers with field operations such as marine, pest and animal surveys.

The rangers worked with CSIRO to retrieve tracking collars from buffalo as part of a program to improve feral animal management in the Djelk Indigenous Protected Area.

After the buffalo were culled, the rangers cut them up and handed meat around to traditional owners and community members so nothing went to waste.

Bawinanga Ranger manager, Alex Earl, said Cedric is settling in very well and has made an impressive start.

‘He is eager to learn and is always willing to jump into any job,’ Alex said.

‘The rangers are loving him and his work ethic and already are happy to sign him up as an intern.’

Maningrida College had a graduation ceremony last week and now the Djelk Rangers have a total of 4 students (including Cedric) starting their ranger internship.

‘I hope to be a full time ranger and to stay longer,’ Cedric said.

Find out more

Cedric is on a Remote Schools Pathways Special Needs Grant for students with disabilities where a Djelk Ranger is paid a top up to help Cedric ease his way into the ranger pathway.

The NIAA support the Bawinanga Djelk Rangers through the IPA and Working on Country program to manage their Land and Sea Country, protecting it from invasive species and maintaining its natural and cultural heritage.