This is the Dhimurru badge. It was designed when Dhimurru first started in 1992. The badge is a strong representation of Yolngu culture and the way Dhimurru operates.

It shows the black and white cockatoos found in this area, enclosed in the beach vine, Morning Glory (Ipomea pes caprae).

The white and black cockatoos represent the moieties that are one of the most important aspects of Yolngu culture. Moities, Dhuwa and Yirritja, are the fundamental divisions which separates everything in the Yolngu universe.

The white cockatoo, Ngerrk, is from the Yirritja moiety while the black cockatoo, Natili, is from the Dhuwa moiety. These animals were chosen because of their strong characters, being friendly and very intelligent. They were drawn facing each other which shows the balance between them and gives the impression of sharing and learning off one another.

The beach vine called Mawuka is also from the Dhuwa moiety. It is a coastal plant that flowers as the Dhimurru winds come in from the South-East. It is very important for judging the season, for food and medicine, as well as playing a big part in cultural songs and dance. In this case, Mawuka also symbolises life, power, beauty and the connections between the two moieties despite the distinctions between them.

Dhimurru emulates this cross-cultural and cross-clan relationship idea and extends this in its “both ways” approach bringing Ngapaki and Yolngu knowledge together in managing country.

In much the same way, Dhimurru has developed its Sea Country program with its own badge. This badge also depicts the Yolngu moieties with the turtle, Miyapunu, belonging to Dhuwa and the dugong, Galangami or Djunungayangu, belonging to Yirritja.

Across the centre are the currents that run through Yolngu sea country. The cross-hatched design is the Dhuwa current; Rulyapa. It runs along the coast of Yirrkala where it meets the Yirritja current; Manbuynga, at the tip of Cape Arnhem, Wanuwuy.

Both badges are strong symbols for Dhimurru, representing the cultural foundations of the rangers work, Yolngu and Ngapaki working together, different clans working together and a respectful unifying of purpose across different cultures.