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Media Release: Seven Summits Challenge

October 9 2023

Tasmanian Rangers step up for Timor-Leste’s Forest Guards

A fundraising relay down lutruwita/Tasmania by the Tasmanian Rangers Association in 2021 revolutionised the work of their counterparts in Timor-Leste with their first new motorcycles in decades. They are continuing to support the Forest Guards and this year they are taking their fundraising to new heights with the Seven Summits Challenge!

From Saturday the 21st October for three weeks, rangers from Tasmania, the mainland and each of the seven continents will be climbing peaks, hills and stairs across the state to achieve a total of 40 000 metres in elevation, the combined height of the highest peaks on each of the seven continents.

The Tasmanian Rangers Association Chair, Brendan Moodie, says:

‘Rangers work on all seven continents, and each of the highest peaks of those continents are in protected areas, so we thought it would be a great way to involve rangers from around the world, while raising funds for our friends in Timor-Leste again.’

‘We tend to take for granted the equipment we use in the parks across Tasmania every day. Being able to supply motorbikes in 2021 was game changing for the Forest Guards who protect the Nino Konis Santana National Park. Their greatest need now is computers. The Seven Summits Challenge will aim to provide them with 14 laptops and two more motorcycles to help them in their important work.’ The number of Forest Guards has increased dramatically to approximately 300 following the 2021 Relay, allowing local communities to work towards protecting more of Timor-Leste’s natural areas.

This challenge will bring rangers and other protected area champions from across Oceania and the world together by sharing stories and photos of their treks, under the hashtag #TRA7Summits and on the website https://tasrangers.wixsite.com/home.

‘We would love people from across Tasmania to get on board to and help us reach our goal of $40 000. You can help out by going to Seven Summit Challenge (thingreenline.org.au) and supporting a team from your favourite park.’ The Challenge is being supported by Tasmania Parks and Wildlife Service, the Thin Green Line Foundation and Conservation International.

The Seven Summits Challenge will be officially launched at 10.00am on Saturday the 21st of October at The Springs, kunyani.

The Tasmanian Rangers Association was launched at Lake St Clair National Park forty-two years ago and was originally formed to help develop and support park rangers and their families. Over the years the association has grown to welcome a wide range of staff from across the Tasmanian Parks and Wildlife Service. The association supports the professional development of its members and raises the profile of protected area managers and their work, and now also works on the world stage by assisting developing countries build their capacity to manage their protected areas.

Updates and photos from the climbs can be followed on the Tasmanian Rangers Association Facebook Page

More about what the Tasmanian Rangers Association Tasmanian Rangers Association website

Contacts: Brendan Moodie Brendan.moodie@parks.tas.gov.au or 0488678881

Elise Snell elise.snell@nre.tas.gov.au

Jess Hewenn Jessica.Hewenn@parks.tas.gov.au

Taking the hard path

August 16 2022

Australian Geographic article of the 2022 Ranger Relay by Andrew Bain.

Media Release: Ranger Relay

June 9, 2021

Members of the Tasmanian Ranger Association will be undertaking a relay-style traverse of lutruwita/Tasmania to raise much-needed funds for their counterparts in Timor-Leste’s only National Park.

Over a month, teams from the association will be covering the 525km from north to south through Tasmania’s Wilderness World Heritage Area, including the iconic Overland and South Coast Tracks.

Starting at Penguin on October 9th, and aiming to finish at Cockle Creek a month later, the Ranger Relay will be largely trekking through National Park, but will also include the Penguin Cradle Trail in the north, and legs of cycling through the Florentine Valley and kayaking down Lake Pedder.

There will even be participants on some of Tasmania’s offshore islands, including Deal Island and Macquarie Island.

The Ranger Relay will raise funds to purchase essential equipment for the Forest Guards in Nino Konis Santana National Park in Timor-Leste.

The aim is to raise $25 000, which will allow them to purchase motorcycles and basic equipment such as backpacks and first aid kits. Their current motorcycles are beyond repair, and the staff are unable to perform their duties to protect first and only National Park in Timor-Leste.

Chair of the Tasmanian Ranger Association, Brendan Moodie, says that the relay will be the first of its kind in Australia.

“The Forest Guards in Timor-Leste are doing an incredible job working with their communities to protect the Nino Konis Santana National Park. We want to give them a hand up by replacing their main mode of transport, their small motorcycles which are now beyond repair, as well as some basics that we take for granted like back packs and first aid kits.”

“The Relay is also a great way to get Parks staff together outside work time. Generally we only get to meet staff from other areas in the state at wildfires, not really a time for catching up!”

“We are also really looking forward to the mix of terrain we will be passing through. The majority of the relay will be in the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area. We are so lucky to have this globally significant wilderness on our doorstep.”

The Tasmanian Rangers Association was launched at Lake St Clair National Park forty years ago, was originally formed to help develop and support Park Rangers and their families. Over the years the association has grown to welcome a wide range of staff from across the Tasmanian Parks and Wildlife Service including Visitor Reception staff, Field Officers and Fire Management Officers. The association supports the professional development of its members and raises the profile of protected area managers and their work, and now also works on the world stage by assisting developing countries build their capacity to manage their protected areas.

The event is in partnership with Conservation International, The Thin Green Line Foundation, Tasmanian Parks and Wildlife Service and the Council of Oceania Rangers Association.

Through the Tasmanian Ranger Association’s Facebook and Instagram pages, the progress of the Relay will be updated throughout the event, with communication to those in the field through an InReach GPS. Australian Geographic will also be covering the event.

For further information contact:

Brendan Moodie (TRA Chair)

Brendan.moodie@parks.tas.gov.au or 0488678881

Jessica Hewenn (TRA Media Officer)

Jessica.hewenn@parks.tas.gov.au or 0447737734