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Aboriginal Relics Ranger, Ipswich, Queensland, January 1978
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TitleAboriginal Relics Ranger, Ipswich, Queensland, January 1978Date Created25 January 1978AcknowledgementThe Queensland Times
Location
City & StateIpswich, QueenslandGeo Coordinatesnot specified
Description
DescriptionAboriginal Relics Rangers were a Queensland public service division of the Archaeology Branch of the Aboriginal and Island Affairs Department, State Government of Queensland, which changed its name in 1975 to the Department of Aboriginal and Islanders Advancement and in 1984 to the Community Services Department, State Government of Queensland.
In 1967, the Queensland Aboriginal Relics Preservation Act was presented and passed unanimously. Amended in 1975 and 1976 and known as the Aboriginal Relics Preservation Act 1967-1976, it outlined how and why the physical cultural heritage of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island peoples should be conserved and recorded.
In 1971, the Archaeology Branch of the Aboriginal and Island Affairs Department, State Government of Queensland, was established in order to administer the Act and the positions of Aboriginal Ranger and Archaeologist were created and filled. The Archaeology Branch’s motto was “Yesterday Today Tomorrow.”
The main focus of the branch was to record and preserve Aboriginal relics and heritage sites in Queensland. The records of the cultural artefacts and historical sites formed the Branch’s catalogue. The catalogue would be used to educate non-Aboriginal people of the great value of Aboriginal culture and to reintroduce Aboriginal people to unknown aspects of their culture. Around 1977-1979, the catalogue had over 7000 relic records. The Branch published pamphlets, booklets, and posters.
Around 1977-1979, the Archaeology Branch of what was from 1975 known as the Department of Aboriginal and Islanders Advancement had three professional officers, five clerical staff, six Aboriginal Relics Rangers, and one Senior Aboriginal Relics Ranger. The Aboriginal Relics Rangers were based as follows: two at Mount Isa, one in Laura, one in Rockhampton, one in Injune, one in Brisbane, and the Senior Aboriginal Relics Ranger was based in Cairns.
Members of the Aboriginal Relics Rangers included Bernie Singleton Snr, a Birregurra Bindal man, Fred Conway, a Bidghera man from Woorabinda, Queensland, and Daryll Murgha, a Guru Gulu Gungandji elder from Yarrabah, Queensland. Daryll Murgha took a research assistant position University of Queensland Anthropology Museum, where he researched Aboriginal tribes in Queensland, before joining the Aboriginal Relics Rangers. Other Aboriginal Relics Rangers were Woppaburra, Yirrganydji, and Djabugay.
The Aboriginal Rangers Service were focused on recording cultural sites in their original locations, such as scarred trees, middens, and sacred sites, as well as public relations. They went to schools, made television appearances, gave presentations and newspaper interviews, and showed educational films.
The Aboriginal Relics Rangers had the power to prosecute in court anyone who damaged, defaced, or stole from the heritage sites under their protection.
An Honorary Wardens service was established to give positions to people who assisted rangers in their duties to find and record heritage sites. Honorary Wardens also sometimes acted as unofficial guardians of isolated sites. Around 1977-1979, there were over 250 Honorary Wardens of Aboriginal, Irish, Italian, and English heritage. They were trained in legislation, public education, site surveyance, photography, and relic recording. The training was annual and was always attended by an Aboriginal Ranger and usually attended by a professional officer of the Archaeology Branch who was based in Brisbane.
By 1980, the number of Aboriginal Relics Rangers had risen to 11 and they were based in Bamaga, Coen, Laura, Cairns, Townsville, Rockhampton, Injune, Brisbane, and Mount Isa. This was the highest number of rangers the program would ever have.
Around 1989-1990, the Aboriginal Relics Rangers service was disbanded after their funding was cut following a change in government. Many of the former rangers would go on to continue their work educating people and preserving heritage places or to mentor people who would do so in other places; Bernie Singleton Snr mentored the people who established Kakadu National Park.
Since the dissolution of the original Aboriginal Relics Rangers, a service called the Indigenous Land and Sea Rangers was established in Queensland. As of 2021, there were 154 Indigenous Land and Sea Rangers whose aims are similar to the Aboriginal Relics Rangers. Indigenous Land and Sea Rangers use artefact identification techniques, record key Aboriginal heritage sites, photograph sites, use GPS to identify sites, and use 360 degree imagery to make interactive online records of heritage sites to compare to earlier records to track changes over time and make available to the public for an immersive heritage experience. The Rangers include members of the Gidarjil people.References (online)Archaeology Papers - Relics in South East Queensland Artifacts in Time and Space – No. 4– Archaeology Branch Department of Aboriginal and Islanders Advancement - [accessed 8 August 2023]Aboriginal Relics Rangers recognised for a trailblazing past creating future paths - Carli Willis – 6 December 2021 – ABC Far North – ABC News - [accessed 8 August 2023]Cultural Heritage Inductions - Dr Darryl Murgha - Gurriny Yealamucka - [accessed 8 August 2023]Fred Conway – 16 December 2014 – Wild Magazine - [accessed 8 August 2023]Gidarjil Indigenous rangers train with Terra Rosa to measure Gladstone’s heritage health! – Zibmedia – Terra Rosa Consulting - [accessed 8 August 2023]Aboriginal and Islanders Advancement Department (1975 - 1984) - QUEENSLAND - ORGANISATION - Find & Connect - [accessed 8 August 2023]
In 1967, the Queensland Aboriginal Relics Preservation Act was presented and passed unanimously. Amended in 1975 and 1976 and known as the Aboriginal Relics Preservation Act 1967-1976, it outlined how and why the physical cultural heritage of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island peoples should be conserved and recorded.
In 1971, the Archaeology Branch of the Aboriginal and Island Affairs Department, State Government of Queensland, was established in order to administer the Act and the positions of Aboriginal Ranger and Archaeologist were created and filled. The Archaeology Branch’s motto was “Yesterday Today Tomorrow.”
The main focus of the branch was to record and preserve Aboriginal relics and heritage sites in Queensland. The records of the cultural artefacts and historical sites formed the Branch’s catalogue. The catalogue would be used to educate non-Aboriginal people of the great value of Aboriginal culture and to reintroduce Aboriginal people to unknown aspects of their culture. Around 1977-1979, the catalogue had over 7000 relic records. The Branch published pamphlets, booklets, and posters.
Around 1977-1979, the Archaeology Branch of what was from 1975 known as the Department of Aboriginal and Islanders Advancement had three professional officers, five clerical staff, six Aboriginal Relics Rangers, and one Senior Aboriginal Relics Ranger. The Aboriginal Relics Rangers were based as follows: two at Mount Isa, one in Laura, one in Rockhampton, one in Injune, one in Brisbane, and the Senior Aboriginal Relics Ranger was based in Cairns.
Members of the Aboriginal Relics Rangers included Bernie Singleton Snr, a Birregurra Bindal man, Fred Conway, a Bidghera man from Woorabinda, Queensland, and Daryll Murgha, a Guru Gulu Gungandji elder from Yarrabah, Queensland. Daryll Murgha took a research assistant position University of Queensland Anthropology Museum, where he researched Aboriginal tribes in Queensland, before joining the Aboriginal Relics Rangers. Other Aboriginal Relics Rangers were Woppaburra, Yirrganydji, and Djabugay.
The Aboriginal Rangers Service were focused on recording cultural sites in their original locations, such as scarred trees, middens, and sacred sites, as well as public relations. They went to schools, made television appearances, gave presentations and newspaper interviews, and showed educational films.
The Aboriginal Relics Rangers had the power to prosecute in court anyone who damaged, defaced, or stole from the heritage sites under their protection.
An Honorary Wardens service was established to give positions to people who assisted rangers in their duties to find and record heritage sites. Honorary Wardens also sometimes acted as unofficial guardians of isolated sites. Around 1977-1979, there were over 250 Honorary Wardens of Aboriginal, Irish, Italian, and English heritage. They were trained in legislation, public education, site surveyance, photography, and relic recording. The training was annual and was always attended by an Aboriginal Ranger and usually attended by a professional officer of the Archaeology Branch who was based in Brisbane.
By 1980, the number of Aboriginal Relics Rangers had risen to 11 and they were based in Bamaga, Coen, Laura, Cairns, Townsville, Rockhampton, Injune, Brisbane, and Mount Isa. This was the highest number of rangers the program would ever have.
Around 1989-1990, the Aboriginal Relics Rangers service was disbanded after their funding was cut following a change in government. Many of the former rangers would go on to continue their work educating people and preserving heritage places or to mentor people who would do so in other places; Bernie Singleton Snr mentored the people who established Kakadu National Park.
Since the dissolution of the original Aboriginal Relics Rangers, a service called the Indigenous Land and Sea Rangers was established in Queensland. As of 2021, there were 154 Indigenous Land and Sea Rangers whose aims are similar to the Aboriginal Relics Rangers. Indigenous Land and Sea Rangers use artefact identification techniques, record key Aboriginal heritage sites, photograph sites, use GPS to identify sites, and use 360 degree imagery to make interactive online records of heritage sites to compare to earlier records to track changes over time and make available to the public for an immersive heritage experience. The Rangers include members of the Gidarjil people.References (online)Archaeology Papers - Relics in South East Queensland Artifacts in Time and Space – No. 4– Archaeology Branch Department of Aboriginal and Islanders Advancement - [accessed 8 August 2023]Aboriginal Relics Rangers recognised for a trailblazing past creating future paths - Carli Willis – 6 December 2021 – ABC Far North – ABC News - [accessed 8 August 2023]Cultural Heritage Inductions - Dr Darryl Murgha - Gurriny Yealamucka - [accessed 8 August 2023]Fred Conway – 16 December 2014 – Wild Magazine - [accessed 8 August 2023]Gidarjil Indigenous rangers train with Terra Rosa to measure Gladstone’s heritage health! – Zibmedia – Terra Rosa Consulting - [accessed 8 August 2023]Aboriginal and Islanders Advancement Department (1975 - 1984) - QUEENSLAND - ORGANISATION - Find & Connect - [accessed 8 August 2023]
Connections
Government & Non-Government OrganisationsIndigenous Land and Sea RangersDepartment of Aboriginal and Islanders AdvancementAboriginal Relics RangerCurated CollectionsAboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Peoples & Communities Who Do You Think I Am?Defining Tulmur | IpswichTulmur: Cultural ResourcesTaxonomy20th Century | 1970s | 1978
Queensland Times Collection
Queensland Times CollectionThe Queensland Times CollectionJanuary 1978 - Queensland Times
Asset Details
Reference IDQT-1978-01-25-0051QT-1978-01-25-0052QT-1978-01-25-0053QT-1978-01-25-0054QT-1978-01-25-0074QT-1978-01-25-0075Asset TypeImage - JpegColour or Black & White ImageBlack & WhitePhysical DescriptionNegativeCopyright NoticeTo use this image, please contact the Picture Ipswich Digital Archivist.CopyrightPicture Ipswich Copyright Information
Linked To
Curated CollectionsDefining Tulmur | IpswichQueensland Times Collection
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Aboriginal Relics Ranger, Ipswich, Queensland, January 1978. Picture Ipswich, accessed 13/12/2024, https://www.pictureipswich.com.au/nodes/view/26849