For Amanda Dungeon, walking for the rangers of Oceania has come to an end but the benefits will continue long into the future.
Amanda is a NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service ranger and has just completed her year-long quest to raise awareness and funds for the protected area workers of the Oceania. More than 100 fellow rangers and supporters gathered to greet Amanda at the recent Thin Green Line Gala Night celebration and fundraiser.
The event was held jointly by the Protected Area Workers Association (PAWA) and The Thin Green Line Foundation at Panorama House, Bulli Tops. Attendees celebrated Amanda’s return and raised further funds to support frontline rangers.
MC Costa Georgiadis and musician Dan Sultan entertained the audience, who were treated to a delicious three-course dinner served by the team at Panorama House.
Amanda began her fundraiser trek on World Ranger Day (31 July) last year with a launch held at Royal National Park. One year on, Amanda has travelled more than 85,000km around Australia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Timor Leste and islands of the South Pacific.
Along the way, she met hundreds of protected area workers and witnessed the drive and passion for protecting natural areas, often under very challenging and sometimes life-threatening circumstances.
Amanda played a short video showing some of the rangers who she met along the way, including men and women from New Zealand, Fiji and Australia. The common theme was passion and an abiding sense of responsibility to protect our natural areas from threats such as land clearing and species extinction.
Amanda was motivated to focus on the rangers of Oceania through her association with the Thin Green Line Foundation, a global not-for-profit that provides support such as equipment and training to rangers in developing nations and conflict zones.
We heard from the organisation's founder, former ranger Sean Willmore, who has travelled and worked with rangers in over 50 countries. The foundation brings attention to the dangerous work undertaken by rangers on the front line of conservation. Last year alone, 150 protected area workers died in the line of duty. The foundation provides support to their widows and families.
Funds raised through Amanda’s expedition will go to a special Oceania Fund within the foundation that will support ranger-led initiatives and opportunities in the Oceania region. This includes training, support programs, management and monitoring and sponsorship of First Nations and Indigenous Rangers.
A feature documentary following Amanda’s journey will be released to mark World Ranger Day 2024.
Find out more about Walking the Thin Green Line and donate here.
Find out more about The Thin Green Line Foundation and donate here.
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