Share this @internewscast.com
Sam Murray remembers learning about the bleaching of the Great Barrier Reef.
Living in Cosmo Newberry on Yilka Country, more than 1000 kilometres inland of Western Australia’s coast, didn’t stop her from worrying.

“I found myself eight hours away from the nearest ocean, worrying that the reef might soon be devoid of fish,” she shared with NITV.

It was this anxiety that sparked a lifelong passion for the Yilka/Wongutha/Nyoongar woman.
Soon she’ll depart for COP30, the 2025 United Nations Climate Change Conference in Belém, Brazil, the centre of the Amazon Rainforest.
This is Ms Murray’s second COP conference, but it’s her first as the CEO of the Indigenous Desert Alliance (IDA) – a membership-based, not-for-profit organisation that supports Indigenous desert rangers across the Northern Territory, Western Australia, South Australia and parts of Queensland, care for Country.
“As Aboriginal people, we know the best way to care for our Country,” she said.
“That knowledge has been passed down for a very long time from our ancestors.

“It’s been repeatedly demonstrated worldwide that areas managed by First Nations people invariably boast significantly richer biodiversity,” she added.

Sam Murray_headshot-1.jpg

Sam Murray, a proud Yilka/Wongutha/Nyoongar woman, serves as the CEO of the Indigenous Desert Alliance.

Ms. Murray is set to join a delegation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander representatives at COP30, marking her inaugural visit to the world’s largest rainforest.

She is eager to spotlight the effects of climate change on desert ecosystems and communities to a global audience.

“Those impacts … include it being hotter out in the desert, increased environmental natural disasters like out of control bushfires … flooding, the impact on remote communities,” she said.
“It’s hard living and working in desert remote communities, with infrastructure issues … those are the realities of people in remote communities and the desert.

“It’s getting harder, and hotter, living out there.”

Despite those hardships, Ms Murray knows firsthand that many in those communities have no plans to give up on their homes, instead focusing on solutions.
“A lot of my mob will never leave those communities. I know for a fact that, my uncle and my family back in Cosmo, they’re not going to ever leave Cosmo.
“It’s our Country, that’s their home.

“We need to look at how we support First Nations people … to live lives in those places that will become potentially harder to live in.”

There are already many positives to share, she says.
“Aboriginal people who visit their Country regularly or live there … see the changes caused by climate change,” she said.
“But that doesn’t mean we ever stop caring. We can care for Country, we can heal country.
“It’s been proven in places where Aboriginal people are given space to care for bits of Country, it heals from that care.
“While there is worry and the doom and gloom about the environment and climate change, I want to also highlight the positive – the passion that Aboriginal people have for caring for the environment and knowing that we can heal – we need support in doing that.”
Ms Murray said there is a limited number of delegates that attend who have lived experience of living in a remote community or town in a desert region.
She feels a deep sense of responsibility to advocate for desert communities.
“What drives me is always making sure that deserts are on the map. Making people realise that there’s a whole part of Australia, one third of the country, that is considered desert Country and that there are people out there, working and caring for it,” she said.

“Making sure they’re not getting missed at the table, making sure their voices are heard … those mob in really remote communities, especially desert space should be afforded the same opportunities to come and have a seat at the table.”

240624-KiwirrkurraIPA-creditSaltyDavenport-3.jpg

Rangers use traditional knowledge to burn areas of Country in the Kiwirrkurra IPA. Credit: Salty Davenport

The conference will begin on November 10 and run for 11 days.

While it’s Ms Murray’s priority to advocate for her mob, she’s looking forward to meeting and learning from other First Nations brothers and sisters from around the world.
“You find similarities, caring for Country, culture and community – it’s the same. They’re trying to elevate and advocate for their mob too … we just connect and it’s a really beautiful thing,” she said.

“I think that’s the beauty about events like this, it brings together different people from different places, but ironically, we’re the same, and we’re advocating for the same things.”

Share this @internewscast.com
You May Also Like
Launched on December 4, the China Eastern Airlines route sets off from Shanghai and lands in Buenos Aires. The flight from China to Argentina takes more than 25 hours, with the return journey taking four hours longer (stock image)

Historic 12,400-Mile Nonstop Flight Successfully Lands After 29-Hour Journey

The aviation world has reached a new milestone with the debut of…
David Walliams

David Walliams Refutes Allegations of Misconduct Following Publisher’s Decision to Sever Ties

David Walliams, a renowned British children’s author and comedian, has refuted claims…

Bondi Lifesaver Ahmed Al-Ahmed Questions Merit of $2.5 Million Donation

Ahmed Al-Ahmed, the tobacco shop owner who was wounded after disarming one…
An independent report released by Optus shines a light on a serious issue with our modern mobile-reliant communications systems.

Critical Alert for Australians: Changes to Triple Zero Emergency Call Protocols You Must Know

The Optus network outage on September 18, which led to the failure…
Prince Andrew seen in Epstein files

New Epstein Documents Reveal Andrew Pictured in Controversial Lap Scene

A photograph of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor lying on a couch has been released,…
The world's longest flight recently took its first journey, taking 29 hours and covering 12,400 miles. And while it may seem like a nightmare to some, it has been celebrated as a landmark success for long-haul travellers who no longer need to take a connecting flight. Launched on December 4, the China Eastern Airlines route sets off from Shanghai and lands in Buenos Aires. The flight from China to Argentina takes more than 25 hours, with the return journey taking four hours longer.

Record-Breaking 12,400-Mile Flight Sets New Benchmark for Longest Journey

The world’s longest commercial flight has officially taken off, marking a significant…
NSW Premier Chris Minns

Premier Addresses Planned Protests with Urgent Message on Public Safety

Chris Minns, who is pushing for parliament to grant “extraordinary powers” to…
Ancient whale fossil

Ancient Whale Fossil Unearthed: A 20-Million-Year-Old Discovery Shocks Scientists

A 20-million-year-old whale fossil has been unearthed by a family exploring at…

Chinese Student Shares Harrowing Experience of Bondi Lifeguard Rescue Amidst Gunfire

Floating on the sea, Chinese international student Levi Xu could see the…

Sydney Bakery Offers Ben More than Just Employment Opportunities

For many refugees and asylum seekers in Australia, finding work can take…
Reece Walsh (pictured) has been snubbed from this year's International Rugby League Golden Boot award

Reece Walsh Overlooked for Prestigious International Award Despite Stellar Broncos Season

Reece Walsh has been overlooked for the 2025 International Rugby League Golden…
PM orders review into law enforcement and intelligence agencies

Prime Minister Initiates Comprehensive Review of Law Enforcement and Intelligence Practices

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has announced a review will be conducted into…