Koala advocates Jade & Charlie Lewis praised at tree planting event
Koala trees were planted north of Toogoolawah to launch the Greening The Brisbane Valley Rail Trail project. Member for Blair Shayne Neumann said “I want to praise people like Jade & Charlie who have been advocating, irritating and annoying governments at all levels for years about this,” at the event attended by the Governer of Qld, and Somerset local councillors. The tree planting was organised by Brisbane Valley - Kilcoy Landcare Association.
Council buy koala habitat on Gold Coast
The 19 hectare property in Pimpama was bought to link existing conservation reserves with a wildlife underpass through the M1 freeway. The new reserve should help the critical East Coomera koala population.
Guidelines for watching wild Koalas sustainably
As the weather starts warming up again, many of us are spending more time outside and we want to encourage our community to get into nature this summer and spend time getting to know our local native wildlife.
With that said, we believe there's nothing more important than practicing animal observation in a sustainable and ethical way. There are a number of tips for sustainable koala observation which Our friends at Koala Clancey have learned from close to two decades of their own practice.
Visit their website for more detail
Back to the wild
Over a recent weekend, our friends at Noosa & Sunshine Coast Region Koala Rescue Team - Wildcare Australia were blessed to release 3 big male koalas, full of character, charm and a bucket-load of testosterone.
Tiger, Scruffles and Pheonix...
‘Tiger’ was up first, a feisty big boy from Wolvi with a penchant for trying to take chunks out of human hands and arms.
At 1am in the morning as two of our rescuers were driving back from two other rescues (with 3 koalas already in the car), Tiger was seen sitting in the middle of Tagigan Road
While he had not been hit, he did have a case of chlamydia conjunctivitis and our two rescuers jumped into action to catch him for treatment.
After a stint at the Australia Zoo Wildlife Hospital, and after bellowing at the other boys on the car ride home, he was successfully released back to his home area to terrorize the locals again.
‘Scruffles’, who hits the scales at a massive 8.9kg was next.
He is a pretty chilled boy who fortunately doesn’t throw his weight around.
One day he surprisingly wandered up to one of our rescuers house in Pomona, sick with a case of chlamydia conjunctivitis. He must have known what he needed and was sent down to the Wildlife Hospital for some TLC.
His release was super chillax…..taking his time wandering around, sniffing trees for a bit before parking himself in a waterhousia to sleep the day away.
'Pheonix' is one of our long-term trouble makers.
This was his 4th stint in care and his 4th consequent release.
Pheonix is a wanderer, travelling over 20kms to the Stratford Park area of Pomona in the 5 years since his first capture/release in the streets of Tewantin.
Unfortunately this time around Pheonix had wandered onto Louis Bazzo Rd at Pomona and was clipped by a car in a hit/run incident in the middle of the day. Luckily two Noosa Council Environment Team members came across him on the road and called him in for us to rescue. After a stint at the Wildlife Hospital, the legendary Pheonix lives to wander again.
Noosa Biosphere Awards 2022
HUGE CONGRATULATIONS to our Ambassador - Meghan Halverson ~ Winner of the Noosa Biosphere Awards 2022 - Wildlife Category (sponsored by Tourism Noosa)
Since co-founding Queensland Koala Crusaders in 2012 Meghan has been very active as ‘a voice for the koala’ with a focus on the care of individual koalas in need as well as the long-term survival of the species.
Her many accomplishments include making possible extensive new tree planting for the Noosa Koala Habitat Rehabilitation Project five years ahead of schedule, the establishment of the Noosa Koala Rescue team, “black walks” after the devastating fire season of 2020, working with NBRF to launch the Koala on the Move educational project and supporting innovations such as the USC Detection Dog for Conservation program.
Congratulations also goes out to all the finalists and winners for 2022. You can read more about the awards and the amazing people honoured for 2022 here
Education Team in action
Our incredible Noosa & Sunshine Coast education team: Bernard Jean and Eileen Walder had a ball with 2 sessions filled with captivated kids and teachers at the Peregian Springs Kindergarten.
There were many questions from the kids and big interest for our koalas.
Eileen did a brilliant presentation on koala facts, protection and preservation whilst Bernard did a reading of the Cuddles the koala book.
The children played a role in pairs where they would pretend to be koalas and everyone had a great day learning about our iconic koalas.
A donation was received and Queensland Koala Crusaders are grateful for this tremendous support.
Perhaps some trees will soon be planted in the region to grow a future for local koalas in trouble.
Upcoming Events
QKC 10th Anniversary Celebration
Our upcoming 10th Anniversary Celebration/Symposium is planned for November and will be our first ‘Members Only’ event.
WHEN: November 16, 2022 at 5:30pm - 8:30pm
WHERE: Deception Bay Environmental Hub - 7 Joseph Cres, Deception Bay, QLD 4508
Join us as we celebrate the Co-founders and Volunteers of Queensland Koala Crusaders and all the achievements over the last decade. Help us look back onto 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.
This celebration will be a chance to commemorate the difference this dedicated group of volunteers have made not only to our local Queensland, but to the world.
Space is limited and coveted so RSVP is necessary.
If you are a member and wish to attend ten please RSVP below, and if not, what a great time to sign up for Membership! and you too can join us for the celebration.
Roving Restorers Program - Noosa Chapter - Friday 18th November 2022
When: 8:30 AM, 18 Nov 2022 Friday
Where: Federal
Join the Roving Restorers Noosa Chapter at a Land for Wildlife property at Federal. Works undertaken will help to improve the biodiversity of the area.
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 19th November 2022
When: 8:30 AM, 19 Nov 2022 Saturday
Where: Yurol State Forest
The 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.
Griffith University Koala Forum
Griffith University’s Koala Forum is back and focusing on activities in the Brisbane Region.
The event will be held the 17th of November from 5-7.30PM at the Griffith University’s Nathan Campus Eco Centre.
QKC will be speaking along with representatives from Brisbane City Council about their work to protect koalas; Queensland Koala Society on their work; A/Prof Jun Zhou from Griffith University discussing his exciting AI project to protect koalas on the road and Jaimee Blouse from RSPCA with insights into the Wacol Wildlife Hospital.
Click here for more details and registration
Donation Boxes help raise funds
We have several donation boxes out in the community. These are a great way to raise funds from peoples small change at various venues across SE QLD.
Recently we received just over $100 from the box situated at the Harvey Norman store and the i-Site in Noosa raised over $130 from change from visiting tourists.
This support is greatly appreciated and puts QKC front and centre in the community.
If you have a business or anywhere that could host one of our donation boxes then please contact us and we will be in touch.
Karla the Koala book launch
Rex an Meghan Halverson attended the launch of “Karla the Koala Discovers the Great Barrier Reef”, the 3rd book in a series as Karla encounters the wonders of Australia.
From Noosa to Lady Elliot Island, Karla gives back.
Having been a huge supporter of QKC over the years, we are very grateful that she continues to give as she helps support the project we were able to acquire seed funding for at Ringtail Yurol Forest through the World Biobridge Mission from the Body Shop.
Funds raised on the day will plant more trees supporting the Trees for Tourism partnership with Tourism Noosa and Noosa and District Landcare Group.
Raffle for Koala Action Gympie Region (KAGR)
Would you love to have a 6 day break in a lovely cottage in our beautiful Mary Valley? Or have friends and family who would?
Do share this with them, or surprise them with a ticket! Only $5.
Visitors will most likely get to see beautiful resident koala, Bluebell.
This is an important fundraiser for KAGR volunteer koala conservation group, made possible by the generous landholders offering their Airbnb
QKC representing at the opening of the Deception Bay Eco Hub
QKC President, Treasurer and Youth Ambassador were honoured to be present at the official opening of the new Deception Bay Eco Hub
This brand-new state of the art facility is based right on the foreshore of Deception Bay which opens up to a significant marine conservation area!
Massive congratulations to our friends at Redcliffe Environmental Forum who have accepted the lease to use this space for conservation education!
What’s more this will be the fantastic venue for our 10 year celebration next week.
Koala Leaders Unite rally coming up in Melbourne
A group of Koala conservation leaders from across Victoria will gather at the office of the Victorian Premier to demand protection for koalas. The rally, the first of its kind in Victoria, will occur at 12noon on Friday 18 November at Dan Andrews electoral office in Noble Park.
Save the Koala bill goes to second reading in Senate
Speeches made by Sarah Hanson-Young GRN, Nita Green ALP, Jonathan Duniam LP, David Pocock IND, Janet Rice GRN.
Koala sighting helps drive protests against Sydney housing development
The koala was sighted in an area close to the proposed Woronora Heights housing development by Sydney Water. In more recent news, Sutherland Shire council will urge Sydney Water to reconsider. .
Victorian koala rescued from cave
A male koala stranded in a cave on the Glenelg River was rescued by wildlife carers after they were alerted by canoeists. It is believed the koala may have fallen into floodwaters.
Koala rescued from dam wall
The young male koala was found by a bushwalker at the bottom of the sheer Cordeaux dam wall, near Wollongong. Wildlife rescuers were called and succeeded in rescuing the koala, who is being treated for dehydration.