Wow! What a night. On the 16th November QKC celebrated the Co-founders and Volunteers of Queensland Koala Crusaders and all the achievements over the last decade. We took a look back into the memories and achievements of the selfless souls who have been working tirelessly to bring awareness to the plight of the most loved Australian icon.
It was a celebration and a chance to commemorate the difference this dedicated group of volunteers have made not only to our local Queensland, but to the world.
Hosted at the newly opened Deception Bay Environmental Centre, Members were treated to an informative and festive evening through Photographic history of "10 Years in 10 Minutes" by Meghan Halverson.
Speakers' presentations of Koala Education by Vanda Grabowski, How dogs have helped along the way by Dr. Romane Cristescu at Detection Dogs for Conservation and a history of an eco warrior by Muzza Munro, all to the lovely music by Dave Norman and Jade Clark
Thank you to ALL of our volunteers and supporters over the past 10 years who helped to grow and nurture a strong "Voice for Koalas" and to Eileen Walder, Caroline Kohl, Carolyn Roy, Kali Gaiatree and Christopher Henderson and Bernard Jean for making the journey from afar.
On behalf of the entire Management Team and Organisers of this event, thank you for a wonderful evening shared with friends and fellow koala lovers!
Here’s to the next 10 years…
Watch the 10 Years in 10 Minutes video here:
Upcoming Events
QKC Annual General Meeting
This is to advise all paid members of the upcoming Annual General Meeting of the members of the Queensland Koala Crusaders. The details of this meeting are as follows:
DATE: 17th December 2022
TIME: 1pm AEST
**NEW VENUE: Sunshine Butterflies Inc, 468 McKinnon Drive, Cooroibah 4565
Nb. If you are unable to attend in person you have the option to join us online. A link when will be sent via email when you RSVP
At the meeting, members will have the opportunity to:
- Meet the supporters of QKC
- find out about QKC’s operations and finances
- ask questions about the operations and finances QKC
- speak about any items on the agenda
- vote on any resolutions proposed.
At the meeting, members will be asked to vote to:
- accept the minutes of the last annual general meeting
- accept the annual report
- accept the auditor’s report
- accept the annual financial statements
- elect board members
Nb. As there was only one nomination for each of the committee member positions by the cutoff date of 2 December, there will be no requirement for email voting or the submission of proxy voting forms
Queens Jubilee Planting - Amara Eco Retreat, Verrierdale - 18th December
We have our last Queens Jubilee Planting scheduled on 18thDecember at 11.00AM.
It will be held at a lovely eco retreat called Amara, located at 81 Litfin Road, Verrierdale.
Bookings are essential and an RSVP is requested so that we have adequate goodies on hand for everyone.
We will begin with an Acknowledgement of Country, a Commemorative Ceremony and a plaque unveiling in honour of Her Majesty the Queen’s 70 year reign, followed by a small planting of 100 natives.
Finally, our hosts are treating us to a BBQ lunch and meeting some old and new friends.
Coming soon, we will have two more plantings in the Ocean View and Mt. Pleasant area. Dates are TBD but we’re hoping to get them completed in January.
Roving Restorers Program - Noosa Chapter - Friday 16th December 2022
When: 8:30 AM, 16 Dec 2022 Friday
Where: Marcus Beach
Join us to help the Peregian Creek Bush Care group treat weeds and plant trees at Marcus Beach. Works undertaken will contribute to the biodiversity of the area, and helps to provide support to the great work already been undertaken by the group.
Please contact Noosa Landcare Project Officer – Tamara - tamara.kubica@noosalandcare.org for further details.
Participants will be notified the day before the event of the exact location of the works.
Please arrive for an 8:30am start.
All tools will be provided.
Bring gloves, water, boots, sunscreen and insect repellent. Long-sleeved shirt, trousers and hat are essential (Workplace Health and Safety Regulations).
Roving Restorers Program - Noosa Chapter - Saturday 17th December 2022
When: 8:30 AM, 17 Dec 2022
Where: Yurol State Forest
Roving Restorer program will be conducting monthly working bees at the Yurol State Forest.
We will treat environmental weeds within the current remnant forest areas and along tracks and trails. This will help improve the resilience of both the existing high biodiversity remnant vegetation areas and also the long-term management of the revegetation areas. It also provides an opportunity to learn bush regeneration techniques, plant identification skills and to make new friends!
Please contact Noosa Landcare Project Officer – Tamara - tamara.kubica@noosalandcare.org for further details.
Participants will be notified the day before the event of the exact location of the works.
Please arrive for an 8:30am start.
All tools will be provided.
Bring gloves, water, boots, sunscreen and insect repellent. Long-sleeved shirt, trousers and hat are essential (Workplace Health and Safety Regulations).
This project has received funding support from the Queensland Government’s Community Sustainability Action grant program.
Noosa & District Landcare Traineeship opportunity - Starting 16th January 2023 for 22 weeks
Want to grow your knowledge and skills in natural resource management? Why not join our next Cert 1 Conservation and Ecosystem Management trainee team!
This traineeship is designed for people currently unemployed OR underemployed (working less than 15 hours per week).
Starting 16th January 2023 for 22 weeks.
This is a temporary permanent position with training provided to assist your transition to ongoing employment.
Wages paid under Schedule E (National Training Wage) of the Miscellaneous Award.
To learn more about the traineeship and access the application visit - https://noosalandcare.org/about/training/
Please share this with anyone who may be interested.
Applications close Monday 12th December 2022 at 5pm
Giving Tuesday
A huge shout out to say thank you to everyone who supported us on Giving Tuesday.
On the 29th November we celebrated Giving Tuesday. A global day of generosity, harnessing the power of passionate people like you to raise support for charities that are impacting our world for the better.
The next 10 years are critical for the survival of Queensland's endangered koalas and recent tragic events illustrate that there is more work to be done than ever.
We strive every day to make a difference and be a Voice for the Koala.
Your support on this and every other day goes a long way! it helps us to be able to plant habitat, support carers, research programs and provide education and advocacy for koala conservation!
Please take a moment to check out our Giving Tuesday video.
COMING SOON - Templ limited edition Tote Bag
Our friends at Templ Activewear are donating the profits from a special edition Tote bag to QKC.
We want to create a better tomorrow for our furry friend, the Koala, which is now listed as ‘’endangered’’.
That is why all proceeds from this limited-edition tote bag will go towards helping our native Koalas through planting trees, educating and working to help stem the rapid decline of wild koala populations across the state.
More details to follow on this fundraising initiative so we will let you know when they are available.
Visit their website to check out the awesome activewear
A tree planted for every new member in December
At QKC we are committed to expanding and preserving habitat for koalas. Throughout December we will be planting a tree for every new member that signs up!
What a great way to finish off the year in support of koalas as we head towards 2023 which promises to be an eventful year for QKC and our members.
Koala Community Awareness and Action Day
During November, QKC President Linda and Treasurer David, travelled to Crow's Nest where Linda was one of the speakers at an excellent koala Community Awareness and Action Day put together by Jane Goodall's Root and Shoots Australia in conjunction with High Country Koala Action Group, Koala Land And Wildlife Support, Darling Downs Environmental Council and Queensland Koala Crusaders.
A crowd of 71 people learned from the speakers of the threats, challenges and opportunities for making a difference for the koalas in the Crows Nest district.
Brisbane Koala Forum
The Brisbane Koala Forum was held on the 17th November. Organised by Wildlife Watcher, an initiative of Griffith University, the event was well attended and a great arena for QKC to talk about some of the work we are doing.
With a theme of Koala conservation in action we heard from the experts about the latest koala conservation work being done in Brisbane and Southeast Queensland.
It was a great opportunity to hear from those on the ground working to protect our iconic koalas and ask your questions during our live panel discussion.
QKC Treasurer, David, made a presentation on planting on private land. There was interest from two of the attendees for a desire to initiate habitat plantings on their private land. A great result.
You can watch David's full presentation here along with the other presenters:
Noosa Biosphere Reserve Foundation AGM
The Noosa Biosphere Reserve Foundation held its annual AGM last week and reported on the previous financial year which highlighted Queensland Koala Crusaders and Meghan’s engagement on behalf of QKC with the NBRF, local stakeholders and the community in sponsoring the Wild Koala Gala to increase awareness and seed fund the Noosa Wild Koala Conservation Fund and initiative.
That initiative has led directly to a Koalas on the Move campaign with flashing road signage and various media community education outreach designed to reduce koala car strikes during the breeding season directly while also increasing community understanding of the challenges facing the local populations more broadly.
The seed funding is also helping with a University of Sunshine Coast project to develop a new app and Bluetooth technology enabled tag which can engage local residents as well as support carers and researchers locate and monitor individual koala as well as the expansion of the koala chlamydia vaccine rollout.
4000 ha of bushland habitat protected in Hunter NSW
Philanthropists Jane & Andrew Clifford have bought 4000 hectares of bushland, including koala habitat, to be managed by Australian Wildlife Conservancy.
Koala rally in Melbourne VIC
16 Koala and forest advocacy groups came together at a public rally to present a list of urgent demands to save Victorian koalas - the Koala Commandments - to the Victorian Premier’s office on 19 November. The group has raised concerns about the lack of a state koala strategy, and called to end native forest logging.
Development overturned at Woronora Heights NSW
Sydney Water have agreed not to proceed with planned housing subdivision on a koala corridor near Heathcote NP, after residents lobbied against the proposal. The community group Woronora Heights and Engadine Wildlife Corridor Preservation Group will continue to pursue their objective to have the area rezoned environmental conservation to protect the koalas and other wildlife.
New Koala advocacy group in Sydney region
Sydney Basin Koala Network has been formed by Total Environment Centre with funding from WIRES. The group will focus on community awareness and bringing koala protection to the front of the political agenda.
