Camping out West

In mid-July 2024, a number of the 8Families group were lucky enough to be invited to experience three days of camping, exploring and learning at the Rick Farley Reserve in south-west NSW. The Reserve sits on Yungadhu Country and covers about 12,000 hectares of land adjacent to Mungo National Park. It is home to the threatened malleefowl bird species.

The Rick Farley Reserve

The Rick Farley Reserve was named after the founder of Landcare in NSW – an advocate for soil conservation, environmental management and reconciliation. It is used to host participants in the ‘Restoring Cultural Practice for Country in Rick Farley Reserve’ project, designed to promote connection to Country and to care for the land through cultural practices. Through an ongoing process of participatory management, the project explores the role of traditional kinship, Country, culture and lore to bring about protection and recovery of threatened species and sustain long-term engagement and partnerships in environmental management for cultural keystone species.

Under the wonderful guidance of Gamilaray man Geoff Simpson, the 8Families group were taught how to connect and listen to Country through cultural practices. The importance and purpose of practices such as cultural burning was explained.  A slow, cool burn of low heat applied at the right time of year enhances plant and animal biodiversity by managing the spinifex, creating fresh habitat and supporting species that need fire to reproduce.

Walking through areas of the Reserve, ranging from mallee and belah trees to spinifex grasslands, gave the group the opportunity to create a connection to Country and to really begin to appreciate the ancient and fascinating landscape. The animal and birdlife in the Reserve was also incredible. While we weren’t lucky enough to see a malleefowl, the pink cockatoos, various honeyeaters and finches, robins, parrots and pardalotes made for spectacular viewing during our time in the Reserve.

8Families Campers