As the community came together to celebrate 30 years since Booderee National Park in Jervis Bay was returned to the traditional owners, they heard significant news. In two years, the Wreck Bay Aboriginal Community Council plans to fully manage the park at Wreck Bay, separate from Parks Australia. Booderee National Park in New South Wales, Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park, and Kakadu in the Northern Territory are the only three Aboriginal-owned and jointly managed Commonwealth parks in Australia. Joint management involves collaboration between the traditional owners and Parks Australia to care for the land. Last year, Uluru marked 40 years, while Kakadu is in its 43rd year under joint management. “We consider ourselves brother and sister parks,” said Beverley Ardler, chair of the Joint Board for Booderee, at the 30th-anniversary celebrations at Green Patch in Jervis Bay. She announced that in May 2028, the park will transition to sole management by the Wreck Bay Aboriginal Community Council (WBACC), becoming the first of the three jointly managed parks to do so. Representatives from Kakadu National Park also participated in the celebrations. “We as Wreck Bay people are saying, enough is enough, we’re not waiting another 60 years, we’re taking control right here, right now,” she emphasized. “In two years, our people will be operating and managing this park.” Guests included representatives from Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park. Ms. Ardler, a member of the WBACC, explained that all three jointly managed parks have 99-year lease agreements with the government, initially meant to allow for a transition to sole management. “But we have developed as parks and built the capacity within our community to manage our land independently,” she added. Parks Australia stated they are working with the community to establish a path toward sole management. Park manager George Brown, a member of the Wreck Bay community, reflected on witnessing the ownership handover in 1995 as a young student during the celebrations. He paid tribute to the elders past and present. “The return of the land in the 90s, the establishment of joint management, and the preservation of both cultures were not achieved easily,” he acknowledged. “They came about because you stood firm. You stood up for what was right and fair.” He urged attendees to learn from the past as they move towards sole management. “Today’s event has always been about identity, self-determination, and passing knowledge from one generation to the next,” he emphasized. “Let’s continue to prioritize culture, land, and our community in every decision we make as we transition to sole management.” Director of Parks Australia, Ricky Archer, a Djungan man, affirmed the department’s support for the community’s plans. “I want to reiterate Parks Australia’s full support in working with the Wreck Bay Aboriginal Community Council to achieve sole management and develop a robust path to get there,” he stated. Stories from Wreck Bay The 30th-anniversary celebrations at Green Patch featured a smoking ceremony and traditional performances by the Doonooch Dancers, choir performances, and live music. A new book of oral histories titled “Bugiya, Nhaway, Buraadja,” meaning yesterday, today, and tomorrow, was launched. “We thought this was the perfect time to launch it on the 30th anniversary of the land handover, as this handing back of country includes these stories as well,” noted Kain Ardler, cultural heritage officer for the WBACC. The book, which began as an oral history project, showcases personal stories from community elders and children, marking the community’s first written publication. Kain Ardler and Paul Collis unveiled the book at Booderee’s 30th anniversary celebration. Dr. Collis, who teaches Indigenous Studies at the University of Canberra, expressed joy in being part of the project. “The book captures the community’s sadness, loss, joy, and discovery in a historic moment,” he shared.
