Torres Strait Regional Authority (TSRA) rangers proudly represented the region at the first National Indigenous Women Ranger Awards in Gimuy (Cairns) during March.
Acting TSRA Ranger Operations Manager Alice Manas was nominated for two categories – jointly winning the 2025 Collaboration Award for a unique project on Boigu.
The Collaboration Award was also awarded to Markeeta Sullivan.
Ms Manas said working on the award-winning Boigu Bio-Cultural Landscape Profile was a career highlight.
“This first-of-its-kind project for the Torres Strait involved collaboration between Boigu Elders, Malu Kiai Rangers, a botanist, Malu Kiai Prescribed Body Corporate and young people,” she said.
“We worked together as a community to develop resources documenting close to 200 native plants and animals in traditional language, English and scientific names.”
Ms Manas said it was a privilege to see the four-year project from the start in 2021 to completion in 2024.
“The end product was a great achievement, along with the relationship and bond with our people,” she said.
“The cultural knowledge to develop the resource, mainly as an educational resource for children, will benefit community and our future generations.”
The 36-year-old was also nominated for National Ranger of the Year, which was awarded to Cindy-Lou Togo.
“The winner is amazing and one of my inspirations from previous ranger forums, the things she does for her community, her peers and ranger group makes me want to achieve more,” Ms Manas said.
“Just to be nominated and a finalist for ranger of the year was a proud moment for me.
“I feel that my work is being appreciated within my team and community, this makes me feel inspired to reset, rethink and aim even higher next year.”
Her advice to young people interested in the field is to set your sights high.
“If you want to be a ranger or a scientist or environmental manager – go for it,” she said.
“We need the next generation to be our scientists, our botanists and marine biologists.
“Join the TSRA Rangers and aim high, not just for your team but the whole program and region.
“You get to work on your own Country with amazing people and work colleagues who become your ranger family,” she said.
Ms Manas attended the event alongside TSRA Rangers Felisha Pearson (Poruma), Sheena Billy (Masig), Virigina Harry (Mabuiag) and Melora Mene (St Pauls), joining close to 200 female rangers from across Australia.
About TSRA Rangers
TSRA’s Environmental Management Program – delivered by its Land and Sea Management Unit – aims to protect the ecological complexity and biodiversity of the Torres Strait region and recognise the strong and enduring connection of people to their islands and sea.
This program supports job opportunities for local people to combine traditional knowledge and Western science to care for land, sea and culture, including as rangers.
The TSRA Rangers started in 2009 with one ranger group on Mabuiag and has grown to 13 Ranger groups across 14 Torres Strait communities (13 islands).
About TSRA
Located in the nation’s far north, TSRA is one of the most remote federal government agencies and supports programs across the region, including for 17 inhabited islands of the Torres Strait and the communities of Bamaga and Seisia on the Northern Peninsula Area of mainland Australia.
Established on 1 July 1994, TSRA is a statutory body and the lead Commonwealth agency in the Torres Strait for Indigenous Affairs, operating under the direction of a community-elected board.
The Torres Strait stretches 150 kilometres northwards from Cape York Peninsula to Papua New Guinea. The 48,000 km² area includes more than 270 islands and reefs.
