Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Experience and Cultural Burn
On Thursday, 3 April 2025, RDA Riverina Board and Staff participated in an Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Experience and Cultural Burn organised by Wagga Local Land Services (LLS).
The event began with Uncle Greg Packer's heartfelt Welcome to Country, setting a celebratory and educational tone. We explored cultural tools, artifacts, and learned about Wiradjuri culture.
L to R - Dallas Tout Mayor Wagga Wagga City Council, Melanie Renkin Research Officer RDA Riverina, Dianna Somerville Chair RDA Riverina, Jayadev Ajayakumar Local Connector RDA Riverina, Amanda Cappello Operations Manager RDA Riverina, Rachel Whiting CEO RDA Riverina, and Melissa Boxall Board Member RDA Riverina.
Mark Lettfuss, Acting GM of Riverina Local Land Services, emphasised the importance of partnering with local entities to support land managers and the community through education, advice, and programs.
Mark Leary and Greg Packer discussed community-benefiting initiatives like the Placenames Projects, Cultural Water Project, and Magic of Wiradjuri Country.
We appreciated the opportunity to connect with the community and land through a Cultural Burning experience led by Dean Freeman, supported by the Rural Fire Service (RFS). Cultural Burning connects communities to their traditional lands, promoting healing for both land and people. The project involves cool burning across critically endangered box-gum grassy woodlands in the Riverina and South-east regions of rural NSW. It includes ecological monitoring to study biodiversity and fuel load responses to cultural burning. The program educates participants on using fire to enhance biodiversity, restore land health, promote native plant growth, support wildlife, and reduce invasive species.
The day concluded with reflections on the importance of preserving cultural heritage and the positive impact of such initiatives on the community and environment. It was a day of learning, connection, and reflection. Thank you to all who attended and contributed to this meaningful experience.
L to R - Melissa Boxall Board Member RDA Riverina, Dianna Somerville Chair RDA Riverina, Dallas Tout Board Member RDA Riverina, Wagga Wagga Local Land Service Staff Member, Uncle Greg Packer Senior Land Service Officer Wagga Wagga Local Land Service
Wagga Wagga Rural Fire Service Staff
Local Land Service staff member, Amanda Cappello Operations Manager RDA Riverina, Melanie Renkin Research Officer RDA Riverina,
L to R - Dianna Somerville Chair RDA Riverina, Ros Prangnell Wagga Wagga Rural Fire Service, Dallas Tout RDA Riverina Board Member.
Audience at the Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Experience and Cultural Burn
Wagga Wagga Rural Fire Service