Both sides of the lens – media training on Country

4 minute watch

Earlier this year, Far West Coast Aboriginal Corporation Rangers decided that media training would be a good way to not only allow them to tell their own stories, but also to create resources and information, and share knowledge and yarn up about their ranger work.

Based in Ceduna, FWCAC Rangers work on extremely diverse and beautiful Country – the Nullarbor Plain turns to rolling red sand dunes which become the white coastal dunes of sea Country. This diversity means they have a lot of great stories to tell.

The varying landscapes that FWCAC Rangers care for.

"We're never doing the same thing every day. We could be out in the desert one day, and then the sand dunes the next, on the coastline the next."

Charlie Coleman, FWCAC Ranger

The training spanned over three days, which the rangers spent on Country shooting video, conducting interviews, taking photos and editing their final video. It covered technical skills, like how to frame a camera shot and get clean audio using a mic, but good storytelling goes beyond the technical stuff, so the rangers also learnt how to interview well, and use editing software to cut their content together to create dynamic and interesting stories.

(L-R) Troy Newchurch, Charlie Coleman, Alex Fraser, FWCAC Rangers and Dan Clarke, Ninti Media, at Acraman Creek Conservation Park.

(L-R) Dan Clarke, Ninti Media, and Ronald Freeman, FWCAC Ranger, setting up the tripod along Googs Track.

"It's something I've never done before. I just love trying to cut all the things and get it into one story. That was good."

Charlie Coleman, FWCAC Ranger

By the end of the training, the rangers had produced a video about all the different work they do on Country, and they already have several more story ideas they're working on. In telling these stories, they're spreading the word about ranger work and the importance of looking after Country.

"It's been a good experience learning how to do media so we can show the community what we've been up to, cos they don't really know much about what the rangers do."

Jordan Miller, FWCAC Ranger

Clockwise from left: (L-R) Alex Fraser, Jordan Miller and Ronald Freeman, FWCAC Rangers, at a Nganamara (Malleefowl) mound on Country; Charlie Coleman, FWCAC Ranger, talks about their work with ParksSA getting signage on Country, while Ronald Freeman films with Dan Clarke, Ninti Media; Jordan Miller, FWCAC Ranger, talks about pitfall trapping, while Ronald Freeman, FWCAC Ranger films with Dan Clarke, Ninti Media.

Far West Coast Aboriginal Corporation

FWCAC manages the Far West Coast land, recognised in law (having been Determined) as belonging to the Far West Coast Aboriginal Peoples in the Federal Court Determination for Native Title on the 5th of December, 2013. The Far West Coast determination covers a vast area of land between the Western Australian Border and Tarcoola to the North and around Streaky Bay to the South. It includes several Aboriginal lands trust holdings such as Yalata Community and Koonibba Community, over which exclusive native title rights have been recognised. This Determination gives the group rights to access and camp on the area, enjoy the land, teach and conduct ceremonies and protect sites of significance on the area. Members of the claim group recall living near the Lake in the early part of last century and the Lake itself is a sacred site. The Far West Coast Aboriginal Corporation has over 1500 members, who are serviced by a 12 person Board comprising of 2 Directors representing each of the 6 Cultural Groups. These cultural groups are as follows: Wirangu, Kokatha, Mirning, Yalata, Oak Valley and Roberts Family.

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