History

EARLY 1900's TO 1960s

About ten Rangers in total looking after all of the Parks in the whole state of Victoria

1967

The Rangers Group (forerunner to the VRA) established to represent Rangers employed by the individual committees of management that were responsible for managing National Parks.

1972

Establishment of the State Ministry for Conservation and National Parks Service. The Rangers Group focused on improving employment conditions for Rangers employed by the National Parks Service throughout this period and in gaining public service status for it's members.

1976

New constitution adopted by the Rangers Group as the structure of the parks management agency changes due to amalgamation with other agencies. The Rangers Group becomes more involved in industrial matters and eventually becomes affiliated with the public sector union.

1985 to 1995

Industrial matters dominate the agenda of the VRA.

1996

Parks Victoria is formed, this stimulates the VRA to de-affiliate itself from the union and re-establish it's role as a professional body rather then an industrial body. Membership was expanded to include anybody who supported conservation service's or the organisation's objectives.

Today the VRA is an organisation representing not just rangers, nor only rangers from Parks Victoria, but all individuals who work in a field delivery role for Victorian organizations that have natural and cultural resource conservation as their main focus. Our current membership stands at about 80 individuals.

The VRA is an active member of both the Australian Ranger Federation (ARF) and the International Ranger Federation (IRF). VRA members automatically are members of both these bodies also. Members have opportunities to attend the annual ARF national meeting, and to attend the tri-annual IRF World Congress. The VRA hosted the 4th IRF World Congress at Wilson's Promontory National Park and other sites in Victoria during March 2003. It was a great boon for VRA members and a fantastic opportunity for interaction with similar professionals from around the world.

Executive meetings are four times a year and we try to have 2 of those in a regional centre to allow members in outlying areas to attend. These meetings are usually followed by an opportunity to relax and socialise with other VRA members while camping out and learning more about the local area. A recent meeting at Castlemaine was followed by a well-known local archaeologist guiding us around the goldfields. Professional ideas were swapped around a BBQ and campfire that night.

With many topical issues directly related to VRA interests (including: Marine Park legislation, the Box-Ironbark Review and the IRF World Congress 2003), the VRA feels that now is the opportune time for all conservation-based employees to become involved in an association that will represent the needs and concerns of all natural and cultural resource managers.

AIMS OF THE ASSOCIATION

 §         to improve park management

§         to promote the professional development of rangers

§         to provide a forum for members to meet and share experiences and knowledge