Ah winter in Queensland!  Coolish early but some of Queensland Koala Crusaders’ team of volunteers, along with IFAW and local visitors soon warmed to the task of planting native habitat trees in a belt adjoining a well-established forest on the beautiful private property of Alsahwa in the Noosa Hinterland.

It is hoped that this planting will provide habitat for a variety of native species but especially koalas.  There have been koalas sighted in the surrounding areas of native vegetation, so by planting additional koala food trees, the koala population will have room to expand and multiply.

Speaking at the planting, Jo from Alsahwa said “we are a farm based eco wellness retreat. Koalas are very important to our landscape, and we are very excited to do our first tree planting experience today with Queensland Koala Crusaders and IFAW”.

In response, QKC President Linda Barnes said “we are putting trees in the ground for the koalas, and we are so grateful that Jo from Alsahwa invited us to be a part of this today. It’s our first tree planting at Alsahwa but hopefully there will be many more”.

“What are we going to do for Wild Koala Day this year?”  "I know", said QKC President, Linda,  “Lets have a Wild Koala Day benefit concert."  And so the idea was born.

Performers, live music, fun for the kids, food, craft beer, all for the benefit of our endangered koalas. What could possibly go wrong?

On a clear early morning in April, members of the QKC volunteers threw their muscles in to help the newly formed Edward Allison Park Bushcare Group restore wildlife habitat along the water course of Cedar Creek, in Draper, north west of Brisbane, in collaboration with Moreton Bay Regional Council.

This first stage, involved clearing of weeds, digging holes, planting trees, watering and spreading mulch.  There will be several more working bees in the coming months to extend the area to be restored and to maintain existing habitat.  This will eventually connect to an expanding wildlife and koala habitat corridor stretching for many kilometres along Cedar Creek.

In the second half of 2021, the veil of corona virus movement and gathering restrictions began to lift and QKC was able to resume activities that are in line with its vision to be a voice for the koalas by protecting and developing koala habitat, providing support for koala carers and advocating for the cause of our endangered koalas.

In a short few months, we have engaged in habitat tree planting activities in a number of sites across south east Queensland from Imbil near Gympie, to the Noosa Hinterland and the Moreton Bay region.

Happy Plantings

We are actively seeking more planting opportunities so that we can improve and increase koala habitat, providing movement corridors for koalas and other wildlife whilst adding to the biodiversity value of the land.  QKC is keen to collaborate with all levels of government, community groups and private landowners to achieve this aim.

In November, QKC was a proud sponsor of the highly successful Noosa Wild Koala Gala, put on by Noosa Biosphere Reserve Foundation.  Over 300 people attended and were treated to wonderful food, entertainment, and presentations by a panel of leading koala researchers and advocates including our ambassador, Meghan Halverson.

Noosa Wild Koala Gala

QKC has also provided significant funding to Koala Action Inc., Koala Action Gympie Region and Koala Land and Wildlife Support as well as making financial contributions to individual koala carers.

The up listing of the koala’s status from vulnerable to endangered in Queensland, New South Wales, and ACT in 2022, means there is even more work to be done.  The new team at Queensland Koala Crusaders is right up for the challenge.  Come and join us and help us make a difference.

In the News with Channel 7

Mateo Leclerc turned 7 in late December and decided that in lieu of gifts he would raise funds for Queensland Koala Crusaders instead.

Mateo’s party guests were invited to donate to this worthy cause rather than bring the traditional gifts that most 7 year olds would expect.

From left: Yann, Christine, Lisa, Mateo and Stephane Leclerc with Murray Munro and Meghan Halverson. With Gypsy the koala.

If you think that $2 wouldn’t make a difference to conservation outcomes, take a tip from the crew at Laguna Pest Control.  A $2 donation for every job undertaken since February 2019, made a combined total of $3220 donated last year to locally based charity, Queensland Koala Crusaders (QKC).

Meghan Halverson, QKC Ambassador, Nicky Turner, Laguna Pest Control, Jodie Sargeant QKC Grants Officer

Queensland Koala Crusaders Inc. was formed in 2012 after the Noosa Koala Summit, bringing scientists, government and Community together for “What is Best for Koalas”.  7 years later and we are still discussing what is best and koalas are still in trouble, but steps have been made to raise awareness and to brainstorm about what is best going forward. Meghan Halverson was one of the Co-Founders who had a dream and she believed that collectively, people could do more to stem the decline of the koala population in Southeast Queensland if they worked together in collaboration. Halverson stated, “Koalas needed a voice   and a group of us truly wanted to make a difference!”

Beautiful Teadoro, an ambassador koala in Noosa National Park, delighting visitors with his frequent appearances in Tea Tree Bay has lost his battle to survive today.

Attacked by a dog in the park, rescued by the Noosa Region Koala Rescue Team and placed into care at Australia Zoo Wildlife Hospital, his injuries were far too great and he was euthanised when no longer coping with the infection.

On Thursday 10^th September while exploring the fire torn Peregian region for injured wildlife Bernard Jean received a call from a local visitor of Noosa Tewantin Golf Course. A koala mum with her head down and carrying a back rider joey was at the bottom of a tree. No dog was present but mumma koala “Meredith” could barely lift her head. Joey Mervyn, sat watching from a nearby tree and when rescuers went to get their equipment for rescue, mum made one last effort to take her joey to safety but could not move with little Mervyn clinging tightly.

On the 9^thand 10^thof September, 2019 a joined force of Sunshine Coast wildlife rescue volunteer groups, including Wildlife Rescue Sunshine Coast, Wildcare Australia and Queensland Koala Crusaders’ Noosa Region Koala Rescue Team, as well as Bushcare volunteers and experienced snake handlers set out to search and recover injured wildlife in the “black zone”