2019 - present

The Gamay Rangers are an Indigenous ranger team made up of descendants of the original inhabitants of Coastal Sydney. They undertake activities covering both land and waterways within the La Perouse Local Aboriginal Land Council boundary, including the Bondi area. The Gamay Rangers are the only Indigenous rangers who operate in an urban setting. They undertake natural and cultural resource management activities from Sydney Harbour to the northern Illawarra, including conservation management of lands owned by the La Perouse Local Aboriginal Land Council.

Activities of the Gamay Rangers include patrolling waters, marine mammal awareness and protection work, cultural heritage protection and conservation, threatened species management and cultural and environmental awareness for recreational vessel operators and visitors. They have a particular focus on protecting animals which, while being important from a conservation standpoint, are also significant ancestral beings for the Aboriginal people of Coastal Sydney. The Gamay Rangers work closely with environmental agencies, research institutions and corporations.

In addition to the Gamay Rangers, the La Perouse Local Aboriginal Land Council also employs Cultural Heritage Officers who perform functions including locating and protecting Aboriginal sites in the Bondi area. Because the La Perouse Aboriginal Mission was established as a permanent settlement when Aboriginal people were moved from camps within Coastal Sydney, it means the vast majority of the Cultural Heritage Officers employed by the La Perouse Local Aboriginal Land Council have an ancient and unbroken connection to Coastal Sydney. By working to protect significant Aboriginal sites, it allows the La Perouse Aboriginal community to meets its cultural responsibilities, alongside legislative requirements.

Courtesy the Gujaga Foundation.