Larissa Hale

Managing Director, Ranger Coordinator, Yuku Baja Muliku Landowner & Reserves Ltd, and Cook Shire Councillor.

“A woman of many hats”
I’m a Mum, a Wife, a daughter, a leader. I’m a Local Government Councillor. I’m the Managing Director of Yuku Baja Muliku, the Ranger Coordinator. I’m a Fire Fighter, an artist. I work with my team for turtle rescue & rehabilitation. I run a Junior Ranger Program. I work with Traditional Owners for Great Barrier Reef Management.

Born and raised in Far North Queensland, connections to Archer Point and Laura through my Grandparents Jack Doughboy and Louisa Banjo.
I spent most of my childhood in Cape York, living and going to school at Cape Flattery, just north of Cooktown.

Currently my role is, Managing Director of Yuku-Baja-Muliku Landowners & Reserves which co-ordinates some fantastic community and environmental programs such as the YUku Baja Muliku (YBM) Indigenous Land & Sea Ranger Program. I worked with our Elders, land trust members and my mentors to establish the foundation stones for Yuku Baja Muliku in 2007.

In 2007 I hired two local men to start the YBM Indigenous Land & Sea Ranger program, and three years later we were successful in receiving additional funding from the Federal Government, which allowed me to hire another 4 rangers. Since then, the programs have grown significantly, with federal and state funding for the Indigenous Land & sea ranger program, the YBM Junior ranger Program, the Archer Point Turtle Hospital, the Kuku Bulkaway Indigenous Arts, and the Queensland Indigenous Women’s Rangers Network, (working with indigenous women rangers from the Lake Eyre Basin to The Torres Straits). The YBM Ranger team manages 22500 hectares of land and adjacent sea country as part of the Yuku Baja Muliku Traditional Use of Marine Resources Agreement with the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority.

Family, community, and country have a strong hold on my heart. Combined they provided me with an idyllic childhood, which I now endeavour to continue for my children and the community by providing programs such as the YBM Junior Ranger Program that has both indigenous and non-indigenous all working together, breaking down barriers, to care for our environment and our communities.

Being passionate about the environment, reef, and my culture I have taken on numerous leadership and advisory roles on national and international committees that help me to share and advocate for our region, our communities, and our people at those much larger scales. I am currently in my second term as Cook Shire Councillor. I also hold dual positions with the Great Barrier Reef Foundation as the Chair of the Traditional Owner Advisory Group and Board Member for the Partnership Management Committee. This provides a space for me to champion for the Great Barrier Reef and to advocate for the inclusion of Reef Traditional Owners in management and care of their sea country.

I am passionate about the environment, my culture, art and the ongoing growth of indigenous land and sea management, fishing, camping, catching up with friends and family.