Last week local school children from Wugularr School, located south of Katherine, joined Indigenous owned organisation Nyirrunggulung-RISE and the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries (DAF) plant industries team in the Big Rivers region for a day of mango harvesting at the Katherine Research Station.
In addition to learning more about harvesting mangoes and when to pick the fruit, the school children were able to join community members who are part of Nyirrunggulung-RISE in picking and eating fresh mangoes.
Nyirrunggulung-RISE members visit the Katherine Research Station on a regular basis and at this time of the year assist the DAF Horticultural team with the mango harvest as well as taking the fruit back to communities, local schools, aged care centres, women's shelters, crèches, and other community-led organisations.
The mangoes being picked this season are part of a long-term research trial with the data collected going towards bettering our knowledge of mangoes, growth patterns and other variables that may contribute to a more productive harvest.
Nyirrunggulung-RISE is dedicated to creating positive employment, education, infrastructure, and wellbeing outcomes for Aboriginal communities in the Central Arnhem Land region including Wugularr, Barunga, Manyallaluk, Binjari and Bulman communities and was formed by a partnership with the Jawoyn Association and RISE Ventures.
Quotes to attribute to Department of Agriculture and Fisheries Big Rivers Regional Director Susan King:
"We look forward to continuing our partnership with Nyirrunggulung-RISE and it was a pleasure to welcome the students from Wugularr school to Katherine Research Station.
"The Department of Agriculture and Fisheries work on an array of research trials and collaborations like this are a great way to engage with and support the community and our research."
Quotes to attribute to RISE Ventures Peter Beesley:
"It is amazing to see how fresh mangoes light up the faces of the community with more fruit to come over the weeks in the lead-up to Christmas.
"It is good that we have spaced out the timing of delivery to our local community schools, this year, they have used the fruit we already provided in chutneys and jam just in time for the next delivery."
Quote to attribute to Wugularr School Learning on Country Co-orindator Joanne Hill:
"This has been a fantastic opportunity to bring in students to observe and participate in the mango picking on Katherine Research Station."
