Hello Koala Lovers,

Thank you to everyone who has been making their annual donations to the AKF as we approach the end of our financial year. We are always so grateful to all our supporters because we take no government funding and that allows us to speak for the Koala with no restraint.

Over the last few weeks, I have been watching many announcements from our governments, both federally and from the recently elected New South Wales Government about Koalas and as always, my impatience grows. The NSW government has pledged a Great Koala National Park, but have also said that logging will continue to occur in those areas, which does not make much sense does it?

As I watch these announcements, and of course I have seen many such announcements over my career, I do wonder why we the general public actually believe them?

That is why the AKF is still absolutely committed to the Koala Protection Act and I am delighted to tell you that I have decided that we will add a new legal person to our team in 2024. We will need to send that person off to Canberra to prosecute the arguments of why it is needed and why we think all their ideas currently do nothing to save the Koala. I have deliberately not used the word lobbyist (because people usually do not trust them) but in essence that is what is needed. In our meeting yesterday, I did suggest we could call this role the “Koala Whisperer” and I got the giggles.

I truly think that we need the Koala Whisperer to whisper into the ears of those in power that the Koala is going out the back door unless we/they act quickly. We will seek a young and energetic environmental lawyer to play that role and I cannot wait.

I know the Koala Protection Act will work but I know too that I am not capable of going head to head with those that want it diminished.

So watch this space, along with our Koala Kiss Ranger (who is settling in very well), we will have a Koala Whisperer in our midst from February next year.

All because of you, our supporters.

I also saw this on my Twitter feed – and it made me smile and want to cry all at the same time. Our planet is a living and breathing place and the Koala forests of Australia are being squandered as greed and lack of commitment takes hold.

With great respect to you all.

Deborah