Working as a ranger across the sprawling plains of Central Australia, Anawari Mitchell feels fortunate to spend time on a beautiful part of the land.
"It's my job to look after my country," she said.
"This is a way for me to work and learn more as part of a ranger team, all while spending time on this good country."
Based in Blackstone in Western Australia, in the Ngaanyatjarra lands, Ms Mitchell is attending her first ranger camp in Ross River, east of Alice Springs.
More than 140 rangers from across Central Australia have come together for the annual event, organised by the Central Land Council, to learn critical skills and connect with other rangers in the region.
The week-long camp promotes the sharing of knowledge between different ranger groups, and includes sessions on catching venomous snakes, operating side-by-side and 4-wheel-drive vehicles, first aid, and animal tracking.
This year, it will also serve as an opportunity to discuss the upcoming Voice to Parliament referendum.
Ranger camp pays dividends
Gomeroi woman Billy Scott, who is organising her seventh ranger camp with the Central Land Council, says the annual fixture ensures rangers can do their jobs safely and effectively.
Bringing together 20 ranger groups spanning across the Northern Territory, Western Australia, and South Australia, Ms Scott believes the program pays dividends to the many communities they cover.
"This is an amazing place where you will see different language groups all mixing together and talking about what's actually happening out in their communities," she said.
"There is a lot of discussion around land management from an Indigenous perspective."
Ms Scott said bushfires had been flagged as a key issue at this year's camp, after three years of higher-than-average rainfall over much of Central Australia.
"Because we've had so much rain and we're now going into the dry spell, it's going to be a huge topic for all ranger groups across Central Australia," she said.
A fulfilling career choice
Growing up between Alice Springs and remote Central Australian communities, Daniel McCormack believed he was destined to become a ranger.
"It's something that came naturally because looking after country is in my blood," he said.
Now a senior ranger with NT Parks and Wildlife, Mr McCormack has been attending the camp on and off for several years, but still gets a thrill when he is called on to manage a snake on the loose.
"It's nerve-wracking, it gets the body going and you get a very intense feeling," he said.
"But it's good skill to have, especially if you live in a remote town; you are the snake catcher, so it's rewarding to be a bit of a hero for the day or for a couple of minutes when you get a snake out for someone."
The senior ranger said the varied nature of the job allowed him to be fulfilled in his career.
"One day you're catching snakes, then you're fighting fires another day, " he said.
"We get rid of feral animals, look after plants and weeds, so it's basically a job that you're always doing something different every day."
An awards ceremony will also celebrate education and training achievements, with more than a dozen rangers receiving certificates in conservation and land management.
