1st June 2017 Mum said we must starting planning for Save the Koala Month; because that is when the WHOLE WORLD can learn about Koalas and how much we love them. Have you seen the latest GORGEOUS video that Caitlin made?  I have not met Caitlin, she is new but Mum said she is like JM (who I do know) and they are going to make some fabulous new videos for our website, our Facebook and EVEN TV…  I CANNOT WAIT. TALK SOON ROGER, OVER AND OUT.   1 March 2017 Gee whiz Mum’s been a busy bee again this week. She’s keeping up the pressure on all the important government people who could actually do something to save the Koalas. I’m super pleased that my mum fights so hard for Koalas. They’re almost as cute as I am, so I think it’s really unfair that they don’t have the protection they need.  You can read the stuff Mum wrote and check out some graphs about it too. I don’t really understand graphs. But Mum says they show things are REALLY bad for the Koala. So hopefully the important government people will understand than better than I can and actually do something about it.   7 February 2017 Great news from mum today! She found a story on the computer (my paws aren’t great on a keyboard) about dogs learning to live peacefully with Koalas. A dog trainer in Port Macquarie has been asked by the local council to help other dog trainers teach my puppy friends how to be nice to the local Koalas. Some dogs can be a big problem for Koalas, especially as more and more hosues get built because they have to travel longer distances on the ground to get between trees. You can read all about it from the Camden Haven Courier. Hopefully the word will get out to all of my friends in the Campbelltown area!   11 October 2016 Guess what?  This morning Miss Bennett rescued a little baby bird.   Mum said “what are you doing Miss Bennett” because she was sort of sitting really still and looking worried.  Mum thought it might be a snake, but GUESS WHAT – it was a baby bird that had crash landed in our driveway. Miss Bennett sort of told Mum to help. Mum was amazing, picking up the little bird, even though her parents kept swooping and swooping thinking Mum would harm their baby (as if). Mum sort of climbed a tree and put the baby bird safe on a branch and her Mum and Auntie by the looks of things are keeping a closer eye on her. Thank goodness. Good on you Miss Bennett.  Keep an eye out for little baby birds – it is spring time here.  Just shows that well trained dogs can be good to wildlife.      26 August 2016 Honestly how can anyone take Charlie seriously and think that he will be at all useful for Save the Koala Month? Time for serious fundraising – not ripping up teddies in the sun. Goodness me! What are you doing for Save the Koala Month?   Remember make sure you put dogs like Charlie in bed at night so they can NEVER HURT WILDLIFE.    I am only joking about Charlie – he would never hurt anything, but look at those teeth and what he did to that teddy.   Over and out as Urban would say.   Mr. Darcy     16 August 2016 Save The Koala Month is almost here! We dogs don’t have such a good reputation when it comes to being in the bush with koalas, but my mum is helping me to set a good example for all my Golden Retriever brothers and sisters. Well, all dogs around the world I suppose, but as you know us “Goldens” think we are special.    Dogs and their human families can have a great time together in nature, as long as we respect and care for the habitat of the native wildlife.  Here in Australia and at my home there are simple rules: we have proper bedtimes, leads, and good discipline all of which helps to keep Koalas and other wildlife safe.  Mum (the Koala Woman) and I are still brainstorming my fundraising event for STKM2016 – that’s Save The Koala Month 2016!  You can see me contemplating what I’m going to do in this picture: I’m hoping to inspire other dog families to do something special to help the Australian Koala Foundation this year.  Write to me, tell me some great ideas and I can blog (I am a dog with a blog) around the world. I will share your  stories on the AKF’s Facebook page to inspire others as September gets closer! Love and tail wags, Darcy     2 August 2016 Hi all,   You know, Charlie and Lulu just do not get it that Mum has to go to work and save koalas! I thought Charlie was going to cry when she left this morning.     Right now, she’s busying organising SAVE THE KOALA MONTH which is every September. This is when all the baby koalas and little birds are being born here in Australia.   So, my fellow Golden Retriever families –  think of way to help me raise funds for mum!   Over and out, as Urban would say!     25 July 2016 Hi everyone, The Koala Woman (Mum!) and Matilda (Lulu!) are back from the campaign road. They learned a lot and are planning next steps for working with Australia’s new government and its new environment minister. Stay tuned for more news! Love, Darcy   5 July 2016 Hi everyone, Mum said that she and everyone else in Australia is waiting to see who how the government forms. I only sort of understand what that means, but I am waiting patiently too. Mum said her and Lulu (Matilda) have started planning for 2019 already. Lulu will be a grown-up donkey by then, and Charlie will be a grown up dog, like me! Love, Darcy   28 June 2016 Hi everyone! Mum and Lulu (Matilda) are reaching the end of their campaign, which is exciting!  I thought that meant that Lulu might have time to play more, but Mum said she will still be very busy for years to come. I don’t mind, because the most important thing to me is saving the Koala. Read Mum’s latest diary entry here. Love,  Darcy 21 June 2016 Guess what! Mum and Lulu (Matilda) are home! Well, only for a quick stop before they keep going, but it is just so great to see them. The goats were espcially happy to see her, and Lulu was especially happy to be rolling around in the grass. Mum said they’ve had a great trip so far, but there’s a long way to go. vote1matilda.com Love, Darcy   10 June 2016 Hi all, I’m missing Mum and Lulu so much, but I’ve heard that they’re having great success on the road! Lulu might even be on TV… well, Matilda I should say. I hope you’re checking www.vote1matilda.com for updates.   7 June 2016 Hi everyone! Mum and Lulu (Matilda) have only been gone for one day, but I miss them already! I hope you’re keeping up to date with their journey. www.vote1matilda.com.

1 June 2016 Hi everyone, Do you know what, I can finally tell you who our new family member is!  It’s a donkey!… Well, SHE is a donkey. I have a donkey sister!  Her name is Lulu. But, her stage name is Matilda, and her and Mum are hitting the road on June 6 to spread the word about the Koala Protection Act. vote1matilda.com I’m a bit jealous that she gets to go, but I will look after the house while mum’s away. It is very exciting! Love, Darcy     9 May 2016 Hi everyone! So excited – mum was interviewed on the TV news on Saturday night and on ABC radio this morning with Steve Austin – I was home so I could hear it. She was talking about the 80% Koala decline in Queensland and you can listen in on the News and Events page. Go Mum!  18 April 2016 Hello everyone, No-one has guessed what our new family member is and that is a good thing because it is absolutely top secret. I know that secret though and in a few weeks, I am going to tell you! Over and out, Mr Darcy     5th February 2016 Guess what! We got a new friend at home today and her name is Lulu… I am going to get you to guess what she is – her kind begins with a CAPITAL D!   Write to knelson@savethekoala.com here with your guess, age and mailing address by Friday 12th of February and I will send all correct entries* an adorable sticker set! *Only available to Australian residents. **Your email address will be added to our AKF e-newsletter database however, you can opt-out at any time.    16th December 2015 At last it is holidays. Mum has been talking about this for ABSOLUTELY AGES and now we get to spend time with Mum, not just at Quinlans, but at home. Mum said EVERYONE in our family is getting a new collar.   I am allowed to choose mine.  Either Red, Black or Blue. I am thinking Blue, but I will let you know.   Mum said it is time for a new photos on the website because I am not a puppy anymore so you can see in the New Year what I choose.   We are going back to work on 4th January 2016. I am Corporal Darcy and in 2016 I have a lot of work to do – to write to every dog in the world to ask them to help Mum with a Koala Protection Act. Get your dog to join – cats too are welcome. My cat brothers are only Privates though. You just cannot let cats think they are too important – they have to remember that their wild cousins eat MILLIONS OF MARSUPIALS IN THE BUSH.   All years have their troubles and this year, my challenge has been to be patient with Charlie.    He still chases chooks (chickens).   Mum said he will grow out of it – hope so.   Merry Christmas.   Love Mr Darcy   30th November 2015 If I could Tweet like Mum (follow her on Twitter here), then I would say “How can Charlie think this is mature?”   17th November 2015 Hi everyone, Guess what! Charlie is 1 – can you believe it.  I found him writing (yes writing) to his birth mother, Gidget. Turns out I’ve been teaching him more than just how to be kind to wildlife! Thank goodness he did not call her Mum.  Because our Mum is Mum and better still she is the Koala Woman and guess what – she mentioned me on page 25 of her latest book – Koala Stories. I was her inspiration she said. Anyway, Look what Charlie wrote:   “Hello Gidget (I have to call my Mum, Mum, sorry!), Yes, I am a big boy.  The photo below is me with Miss Bennett just laying around after chasing chooks (oops don’t tell Mr. Darcy) and hanging in the horse trough.  You have to do that when you are HOOOOOTTTT  – I get hot and then I have to breathe a lot. I still talk a LOOTTT too.   Especially when it is LUNCH time.  I love LUNCH. I have been shaved because Mum said that there are just too many ticks; but as you can see my head looks a little large on my body right now. Tell my brothers and sisters I don’t really miss them because I have so many people to play with here (especially the cats) but I hope they love their families too. Thanks for thinking of me. Love Charlie.       11th November 2015 Hi everyone, Well, I thought I was the only writer in the family, but turns out I was wrong! Mum’s released her very first book, and it’s really, really good! It’s called Koala Stories, and it has all sorts of information in it about Koalas and the trouble that they are in. I think it will help to spread the word so people can be kind of Koalas like I am.  I actually sat next to Mum quietly while she wrote parts of it, and I could really tell that she loved what she wrote. Because I’m a very clever a dog with a blog, I can notice these things easily, unlike Charlie! Maybe I’ll teach him when he gets a bit older. Anyway, you can order yours here.   Love, Mr Darcy.   5th November 2015     OK – I know he looks cute.   Everyone says so, but honestly if you saw him chasing the chickens around our garden you would ABSOLUTELY be shocked at his behaviour. When I was little I used to listen to Mum when she said “no Mr. Darcy”, but truly, Charlie; well he is so naughty. It just shows that it takes a lot to train a dog not to run after things. Miss Bennett seems to be on top of it all and he really listens to her when she says No – in a dog way.  I just sit back because I am now the elder of the group and of course I have so much to do to help Save the Koala. Mum said Charlie will get the hang of it all and the chicken seems to even enjoy being with Charlie – he has not hurt one of them so don’t worry about them.  I know this is like “dobbing” on a friend.    I don’t think I would about a friend, but Charlie is like a naughty little brother so I feel I can share my feelings with you. So Mum is very excited because she has written a book (coming soon), and the Koala Army is in full swing – have you written to the Prime Minister?   Over and out –  Corporal Darcy (that is my rank).     PS. I think Charlie will stay a Private at this rate!     25th September 2015 Happy Save The Koala Day everyone! Mum said she was off to visit some Koalas at Lone Pine to celebrate. She gave me a stern look on the way out because I snapped at Charlie.  I’ve decided I’ll be good today, because it really means a lot to Mum. And I have to teach Charlie to be kind to all animals (including other Dogs), and especially Koalas. I was actually watching a Cobra versus a Meerkat last night, and gosh it was scary! Mum says it was on the TV, but it looked real to me. I know all about snakes from Quinlans, and from that time that big one tried to hurt Charlie when he was little. That was very very scary (don’t tell Charlie I was scared) and Mum said we’ve all got to look after eachother.  Every single animal is important, and we must remember that today. Love, Mr Darcy.   23rd September 2015 Hello everyone I just got back from Quinlans, and gosh, was it fun! I haven’t been there for ages, unlike Charlie, he always gets to go because Mum needs to watch him becuase he’s little. I had to keep a special eye on Charlie at Quinlans this time, because he was sick. I don’t like seeing him like that (don’t tell him) but Mum says he’ll be better soon.  The walls at Quinlans are getting painted, it looks lovely. It looks better and better every time I visit. It’s Save The Koala Day this Friday, I hope you’ll help out! Love, Mr Darcy.   28th August 2015 Hi everyone! I am planning to invite all the neighbourhood dogs in for Save the Koala Day for a fundraiser (I don’t really know what that means actually), but Mum said it will be fun and that we can help save the Koala.  That is my job after all. Charlie is coming, Miss Bennett too. You can help for Save The Koala Month too by clicking here.   Over and out (that is Koala Army talk)     3rd August 2015   Well hello, and guess what… this Maremma dog looks EXACTLY like Miss Bennett. Well, Miss Bennett isn’t actually all Maremma, her mother was a Golden Retriever (like me!) and her Dad was a HUGE Maremma. Sometimes people can be scared of dogs like Miss Bennett, but gosh they do a great job looking after things. Mum says Miss Bennett loves to stay home (which is sort of good because I get to go to Quinlans) and if you could see how she tells Charlie off when he is naughty – you can see why this fabulous breed is going to help save Australia’s wildlife – just like me. Now, have you organised raising money for Save the Koala Month?   Perhaps you can get your dog to raise some funds – have a puppy party and send photos to me.  I would love to see them. Mr. Darcy   10th July 2015 Charlie came back from Quinlans FILTHY. He went on a bush walk and jumped in a pond! Mum was a little bit mad, but not really. She said that there was a memorial for our friend Dr. John there. She said it’s important to honour our friends who are no longer with us.       23rd June 2015 Mum tells me I am a really good dog, and that I am a role model for Charlie (he needs one) and for all other dogs in Australia. This is because I know to never ever hurt a Koala, or any other wildlife. Mum also tells me that there are lots of dogs out there that hurt Koalas all the time.  Some of these dogs that hurt Koalas have Mums and Dads like me and Charlie and Miss Bennett, but lots of them are ‘wild’. This means they don’t have a warm bed to sleep in like I do, or a Mum to look after them like I do. Even worse, Mum told me there is one dog in particular that is KILLING lots of Koalas in Brisbane. Scary!! Although what they do is really bad, I feel sorry for these wild dogs, and it’s even worse because they don’t have anyone to show them how to act around Koalas and other animals. Mum has taught me ‘respect’, which means leaving Koalas alone even though they look like they would be fun to play with. Mum got a newsletter from her friends at Koala Action Group, and in that newsletter it gave some great advice about dogs and Koalas. Well done to them!! They think the same way as me and Mum. I hope if you’re reading this and you have a dog then you’ll learn something too. Read more here.       Monday, 25th May, 2015 Guess where I have been?    Oh my goodness it was so much fun and I even took Charlie. There is this really nice guy called Neil who slashes our front paddock and Mum let me run ahead of the car (Charlie wasn’t allowed by the way because it can be DANGEROUS) and it had just been mowed so I was able to run and jump with JOY!     Quinlans is so beautiful.   We saw an Azure Kingfisher, Black Cockatoos and a big black bird fishing in our Billabong – I don’t know what that one was actually.   Mum said she will tell me soon. Anyway we are getting ready for Dr. John’s Memorial (that means a sacred place to remember someone) and I helped scope it out with Ian and Mum.  It will be a fantastic place to sit and reflect (that means thinking about by the way) on all things about nature and where we can help. I know where I help.  I educate so many dogs around the world about being a good dog.  I am truly a good dog – Mum said so.  She tells me all the time.   She said I have gone from being a puppy to being a leader.  Charlie is the puppy in our family now. See you soon and don’t forget to join the Koala Army…  We need you. Love, Darcy     Wednesday, 20th May, 2015 Mum’s showed me some very cool stuff from a new AKF supporter! Our friends from Pet Threads have decided to donate $4 every time they sell one of their Koala Dog outfits. I’m such a big boy that they won’t fit me, but I’m not even one bit jealous because the other dogs wearing it will be helping Koalas. As long as Charlie doesn’t wear one!! Pet Threads have also put together some tips for keeping Koalas safe from dogs. Not that I need any tips!     Wednesday, 13th May, 2015   Look who is going to work with Mum!         Doesn’t he look like me?   I, however have never put my dirty paws on the back of Mum’s seats, but I do hear that he is doing a great job in the Save the Koala Retail Store at Mum’s work. Charlie is very cheeky at the moment and Mum said I am being very, very responsible teaching him the rules at home. Clare and Margot work with him at work in the Shop. Miss Bennett and I actually enjoy some time away from him at the moment.  Puppies are just so UNPREDICTABLE!   But I do think that I am going to Quinlans soon and will get to see Ian. Hooray! Have you bought anything in our Shop? Love, Mr. Darcy     Wednesday, 22nd April, 2015

Hi all, Charlie isn’t at home and Mum said when she left this morning that “Charlie had to work in our Save the Koala Shop”  Mum said there is a new royal baby coming and we have to be ready. But you know I have a feeling that he might be sleeping on the job (or worse still) in Mum’s office. (Charlie asleep in Mum’s office)   So, make sure you are getting ready for Save the Koala Month.  That is my job to promote that and like all new age dogs “I can work from home”   And I won’t be asleep. Write soon. Love, Darcy   Wednesday, 1st April, 2015 I’ve heard Mum and some other humans talking about ‘wild dogs’ recently.  Mum said they’re different to Dingoes. Dingoes are ‘an important part of the ecosystem’, whatever that means. Some of these wild dogs are hurting humans, pet dogs (like me!), and even Koalas. See here. If only the owners of dogs did not let them stray and go off into the bush.  Imagine being a wild dog! I feel very lucky to have my warm bed and yummy dinner every night. Thank goodness I have my Mum who loves us. Love, Darcy.   Tuesday, 24th March, 2015 Charlie has been going places with Mum and I have been left behind.   Gee, the whole problem with leadership is that you get so much responsibility.    Mum said because I am a big dog now I have to be a great leader to Miss Bennett and Charlie, but I think it can get quite boring. (Charlie playing with his friends Bandi and Buster) I have a feeling Charlie went to Quinlans without me actually.   Not sure, but you sort of get a feeling about such things when he comes home smelling of the bush.   Mum found this old photo of me and Miss Bennett and now I do the night shift for Charlie and Miss Bennett looks after him during the day.   He is a good little pup, very smart from what I hear from the humans around, but I think he can just be plain annoying. So, I am going to get on with things and it is time for Golden Retrievers to unite.  All of us, to save the Koala. If leadership is needed, then I am ready! Join the Koala Army… Love, Corporal Darcy

Thursday, 5th March, 2015

Can you believe it, someone has cuuulllll….not sure what the word is, but anyway, they have killed some Koalas.

I won’t tell Charlie – he is too little to hear such dreadful things.  

Read Mum’s Diary here.

Monday, 16th February, 2015

You know, Mum says that I am just a little, well, maybe a lot, just a little bit, teensy weensy bit JEALOUS of my new brother Charlie.

Everyone says he is so cute…

… so adorable, so beautiful.

I remember when I was that cute…

… and now they are even saying Charlie is SO BRAVE!

For those of you who are scared of SNAKES – you had better close your eyes while you read this because Charlie had a huge fight with a snake.    And it was a big snake.  He was just SCREAMING and Miss Bennett and I did not really know what to do because, well, it was a big snake and he was SCREAMING and then Mum came out and well, you would not believe it, she pulled that snake off Charlie and then sent him flying through the air.  

Phew, it was just incredible.

Mum said that snake had a chance because she had him taken away from our house in the morning, but he CAME BACK.

So he has now gone a long, long way away.  Mum said he was too beautiful to have him “destroyed”.  I don’t know what that means, but anyway Mum said he is living happily on a mountain a long way away from our house.

So back to Charlie, he was brave, but you know he does not know a thing about the Koala Protection Act , is not a member of the Koala Army and I suppose I will just have to teach him everything like I do when I write to you.

Charlie is a Golden Retriever like me and Mum said she is thinking of writing to every Golden Retriever in the whole world to get them to help me fight for the Koala.    Maybe I should write to them!

That is a good idea….

Thursday, 29th January, 2015

And he didn’t even do anything!

Wednesday, 28th January, 2015

Mum is at work, guess what. She took Charlie!

Thursday, 18th December, 2014

Tuesday, 9th December, 2014

Tuesday 11th November, 2014

Make sure you buy your family beautiful Koala figts, I am going too because I love Mum! Check out the catalogue here.

Thursday 25th September, 2014

Quinlans was just fantastic and I got to meet the family of Peter and Julanne who gave it to the Koalas. Save the Koala Day coming up on Friday and Mum said there is a beautiful new Shop!

Order online now.

Monday 11th August, 2014

Quinlans was just fantastic and I got to meet the family of Peter and Julanne who gave it to the Koalas.

Monday 28th July, 2014

I am going to Quinlans tomorrow – and all the team at AKF are coming too. Keep an eye on our Facebook so you can see what I am doing. Don’t forget Save the Koala Month coming up. I wish they had a finger puppet with my face but Mum said it had to be Koalas (order now).

See you soon

Wednesday 18th June, 2014

Monday 12th May, 2014

Monday 10th March, 2014

Hi everyone,

Tuesday 18th February, 2014

Koala pooh found at Quinlans! Gosh, and I wasn’t there! Click here to find out more.

Wednesday 12th February, 2014

Hello everyone,

Wednesday 22nd January, 2014

Happy New Year!

My mum says that it is 2014 now and a new year. This means that we are going to work even harder to save the Koalas. I really like helping save the Koala, it’s a big person job but because I’m so smart I help too. The Koalas and their home are in big trouble and need us now more than ever!

I hope you can help with me? Join the Koala army today (Click here)!

Tuesday 24th December, 2013

Merry Christmas everyone and particularly say hello to all the dogs and cats in your family.

Tuesday 19th November, 2013

Tuesday 12th November, 2013

Hi Everyone,

Mr. Darcy here. I was the first dog to be recruited into the Koala Army (click here) and I want all of your dogs to join too. The Koala Army means that I promise to help mum get a Koala Protection Act. I am so proud that I have never hurt a Koala (I did chase a Magpie at the weekend). Don’t tell mum.  

Why not buy your canine friend a Dog Tag with their name on it! (click here) It makes me really proud when I wear my Dog Tag, it shows that I love Koalas and will not hurt them.  Help the Australian Koala Foundation in our fight for the Koala. Your donations are the lifeblood that enables us to speak for the Koala and its habitat. 

I’m looking forward to protecting the Koala with you and eating Christmas dinner.

Mr Darcy xx

Tuesday 8th October, 2013  

Mum said the “election” is finished and she is very glad that it has come and gone.   Now, the time for hardwork and that is getting a Koala Protection Act.   Mum said that people in the United States think that we will do it!  Join the Koala Army 

Thursday 5th September,

On Saturday 7th September, Mum and I (probably not Miss Bennett) are going to Vote. I don’t really know what that means, but I think it means I get to go on a lead and visit a School where there are lots of lovely people who think I am famous and want to pat me. They know Mum too and they always say “hello Koala Woman”. I don’t know why they don’t call her Mum like I do, but perhaps they don’t know she is my Mum.  Anyway dogs don’t have a Vote Mum said and nor do Koalas, but you do.

Monday 5th August,

Tuesday 23rd July,

Hi everyone,

I have been very busy with Save the Koala Day planning and hoping that you might like to help the Koalas by having a Donation Box at your office, or even have a party so that you can raise money for Mum’s work.

I will personally promise to help Rose put the box in an envelope to send to you.  I am very good at helping when I come to the office.   Even though I haven’t been as much lately because Miss Bennett needs looking after at home.  She is my really new best friend and we love each other very much. She smiles a lot and really loves Mum like I do. At night time, she sometimes tries to hog sitting in front of Mum when she is watching the news.   I had to tell her “that is my spot Miss Bennett”.   I sometimes wonder how Mum can love us all equally but she does and of course Miss Bennett always gets everything last so she doesn’t get too big for her boots.  Mum said she might be bigger than me when she really grows up because she is nearly as big as me and she hasn’t even had a birthday yet.   

And have you joined your Dog in the Koala Army (I actually lost my Dog Tags but don’t tell Mum).

Monday 1st of July,

Have you joined your pet to the Koala Army yet? Click here.

Tuesday 11th June, 2013

Thursday 9th May, 2013

Gosh I think Miss Bennett is getting too big for her boots and she should put them up on the trees at Quinlans (see Mum’s Diary). You know how I always walk beside Mum in the bush and at Quinlans.  Well…… well, Miss Bennett sometimes goes off completely on her own. I know, I know you think I am dobbing on her, and I suppose I am but honestly! She could be killed by a snake and guess what we nearly thought she had because she came back to Mum crying with a sore paw. You should have heard her crying and I felt very sorry for her, I really did.

Monday 15th April, 2013

Monday 18th March, 2013

Mum said I am very clever because I am teaching Miss Bennett everything I know and that means I am very smart. Mum said that, not me!

Monday 25th February, 2013

Monday 28th January, 2013

Mum said Miss Bennett is allowed to come to Quinlans for our strategic planning meeting (whatever that is).   That means I get to show her everything including the billabong at the front gate.  She is going to love that because Miss Bennett is half golden retriever (I am a full golden retriever) and she just loves water like me.

Mum said she is also half Marema which is a big dog that likes to look after things.  Mum said she will look after all our family because that is what she is meant to do.  Isn’t that nice?

I wonder if she will get bigger than me?  

16th January 2013

Miss Bennett and I having a bath and this was her first time ever.

14th January 2013

I have had a great Christmas and summer holidays and my new companion and I have hit it off from Day 1.   Mum said I am just a “lovely boy” and that I have learnt everything about teaching from my Grandpa – you remember him, his name was Dane and Mum said I could wear his Christmas collar.   Big shoes to fill, but I don’t wear it on my feet, I wear it on my neck.

18th December 2012

29th November 2012I know, I know, I am always talking about snakes and today is no exception.  When we went to bed last night a little snake got caught on the door of our bedroom and Mum had to get my friend Bill to come and get him this morning.  That meant we got to have a sleep over on the verandah and we could see Mum.  Usually when we are in the garage we cannot see her.   It was a little scary being in the dark, but I was with my brother Tim and he looked after me.  We were not allowed to go into the bush because that is not allowed at night time.  Mum put up a barrier so we were all safe and it is getting hot, so we were not cold.

31st October 2012 Quinlan’s.  Well, you know I love Quinlan’s and even though I am still a little bit scared, I want to tell you a story.  You have to promise that after I tell you, that you will still love Quinlan’s because snakes mustn’t make us too scared, we all have to be brave.  Well, Mum and I went to Quinlan’s the other day because Jono, Banjo and Dylan are all there making Quinlan’s even more beautiful, and Mum and I got to stay there two whole nights.

26th September 2012 –  Save the Koala Month is nearly over and boy have I been busy.   Sending out donation boxes, getting ticks (I had 7 one day) and watching a bird that lives at our place make a HuuuuGGGGGeeeee nest.   We call him Mr. Reg and there is a Miss Reg.  Mum said they want to get married and he has to build a HUUUUUGGGGEEEE nest to make her marry him and have babies.   I spend a lot of my time watching him because he is a bit of a temptation for me to chase.  I haven’t, I promise, but he sort of runs around like a turkey (I think he is a Bush Turkey come to think of it) and he spends hours and hours and hours making this huge pile of sticks and nests (photo).   I don’t know, but some people just don’t like having those sort of birds around.   Mum hasn’t yelled at him at all even though he dug up a whole lot of plants that she planted.  She just thinks he is lovely and every morning Mum and I watch him being nice to Miss Reg.  I will let you know when she lays her eggs.  That is the next step apparently.   Dogs don’t lay eggs – not sure what we do because I have been to the Vet.   Get your donation box – we need all the help we can for the Koalas.  

30th August, 2012 –     Yesterday I gave a paper at a famous Zoo Conference and I told everyone about how I write for PETS Magazine and that I have a Blog and that I write about being a good boy and never chase wildlife and that I am very special and that I think I am really cool.    Oh dear, I think my little ego is getting a little out of control.  That isn’t actually quite true, it was actually Mum who gave the presentation and she was telling people that she thinks that having responsible dogs is a good thing and that I have played a very special part in educating people about what to do with their puppies as they grow – like me.    I was sort of  there though.  I had my photo in “what it takes to save koalas” section of Mum’s paper.   She said everyone there was really lovely and tonight we have to have a babysitter because she is going to a big dinner (with lots of beautiful scraps I reckon) and I won’t see her until tomorrow.    It is also Save the Koala Month coming up and everyone in the whole world is going to be raising money for koalas – whooppeeee, click here to find out more. 

16th August, 2012  – Board meeting today, so I am very busy.  It is our busiest time of the year.  I just  had to go out for a quick walk and met some lovely girls from John Paul College who just thought I was adorable.  They were the Blue Team on an Amazing Race around Brisbane.  Mum says that is sometimes on TV, but I think this was a School one.  Mum has talked at John Paul College in the past. They love koalas. ( I have been on TV too).  Save the Koala Month is coming up and everyone is busily packing boxes so that all of you can help raise money for the koalas.  I have been carrying pieces of paper around the office today.   Rose, (I love Rose), says that I have been very useful and I going to have a quick rest before I do much more.   Believe it or not, I have had two ticks in the last two days, but I feel completely well.  Mum said I had to come to the office today because I need to be supervised. Supervised, and me nearly two!   Do you remember when I was little?  Just a reminder of my baby photo.  I hadn’t even met Mum then – I can’t ever imagine not knowing Mum.    Get a box to donate.  I will personally pack it for you. Do you remember when I was little?

23rd July 2012:   OK Mum is back and she told me that I am going to be very very busy over the next couple of months and guess what I will be two years old in October. She said I am starting to look like a DOG, not a PUPPY. I still feel like a puppy and I still tear up teddies, but not quite as many as I usually do when Mum is away.  

I learnt a whole lot of new tricks from my newest friends Hannah and Nick. They taught me how to play with a tennis ball and guess what, Mum doesn’t know the difference between a tennis ball and a teddy. She is so silly. I know the difference and can get exactly what she asks for now. Teddy, Ball, Stick – three words and I know them all.

Now, I am also going to become Corporal Darcy in the Koala Army so watch out for me and Urban asking you to help the Koalas while we wage peace for the protection of koala habitat. Mum said that being a little boy I couldn’t have such an important job, but nearly being two, well I am ready. Corporal Darcy – don’t you love that!  

Mum also showed me my photo in the latest PETS magazine – gosh I look handsome.   

26th June 2012: Mum is away and we miss her very much. I want her to come home but she says she is learning a lot about how to protect the Koalas in Victoria and South Australia. How can people not want to protect all koalas – that is like saying that you can be nasty to some Golden Retrievers and not others. Hmmm… Anyway, I have missed writing to you, but I just had to say that Mum will be home soon and Frank and all the others, even though we have lovely babysitters, miss her and it is very cold. Mum said it is hot where she is staying – I wonder how that can be?

4th June 2012:Mum said I have to tell you what happened at Quinlan’s at the Bush Tucker Lunch last weekend.     

When Mum saw me with a piece of chicken on a big metal stick that should have gone into the Pizza Oven, not my mouth, I told a “fib”. I said it was my best friend Jock who had taken it and he gave it to me. I had invited Jock and Sacha to lunch.  

They came with their human parents and we all had a great time. Mum said not only was I naughty but I also was nasty to my best friend. Hmmmm…I don’t think I am going to do that again. Mum said it because I am still little and that sometimes people whose dogs kills koalas do the same thing. They don’t tell the truth either. They just bury the koalas in their garden or put them in the garbage bin and no-one knows they are missing.  

Imagine what the koala parents think when their little koala has gone missing? Being a grown up is so hard, but I think I now know that it is so important to tell the truth – I am going to try and be good about that forever. I didn’t chase any kangaroos either and we saw some – it was great. 

Anyway, have a look at all the fabulous photos – the rest of the time was just great.  Don’t I look handsome?

25th May 2012: Oh my goodness, I am famous – look at me, when I was little, on the blog of http://www.socialdiary.com.au/.  There is a girl called Cathy who really fancies me and she wrote lovely things about me. I might get to meet her in person one day. Mum said she is a really great supporter of koalas too.   Aren’t people lovely? I am going to Quinlan’s with the whole team tomorrow – hooray – Bush Tucker lunch too. I am very good at cleaning up and I will get to see the goannas. Have a lovely weekend. 

30th April 2012: Today is a very important day for koalas and Mum is very busy writing and talking to people. It has been raining a lot too. When I got back from Quinlan’s one of our native animals on the property had got himself stuck in a door in our chicken pen. Mum and I had to be very brave and we had to cut a piece of wire so the “fat” part of him could get out. You know it just shows how much you have to think about things, because Mum had our “chookpen snake-proofed” a few months ago and she thought this would be the last time we had to do all this (Australian’s call chickens chooks by the way), but we forgot about the DOOR!

Anyway, I am not sure what was in his tummy, but it seemed to have moved down a long way, so he must have been in there with another smaller snake for at least two days. The poor chickens – the ones he didn’t eat –( ooops, I wasn’t going to tell you that Giovanni – our rooster is missing), are a little afraid of going back in there.  

Many people asked Mum and I whether we were going to kill the snakes. WHAT ARE THEY THINKING?! Who ate chicken for lunch today? I did, I often get a little bit of chicken in my food for a treat. Frank does too.  He loves it. Anyway, Mum said it is just the circle of life and our snake will now go to sleep for the winter.

I don’t think everyone will be going to sleep over our winter. Mum said something exciting is happening on 21^st May and I am going to get to wear stripes. Hmmmm, I wonder what that means?

20th April 2012: Mum has been so busy in the last couple of days but it has been great. Journalists have been coming to our house and I got to go on camera. Have a look at the koalas Facebook to see what it is all about. I am a little bit of a media hog in that regard you know, but don’t tell anyone. Mum has been saying lots of things about trees coming down and sometimes I don’t listen, but this morning I really learnt what it feels like. Because we have had so much rain over the last two years a big tree nearly fell on our house, so this morning a lot of noisy men came to cut it down. All our trees have lots of boxes for my friends the possums and they were all so scared. Mum said this is what happens to the koalas. People cut their trees down and they have nowhere to go.

Luckily Mum chose some men that are really careful and this poor little possum was so frightened we had to wait for him to realise that he had another box to jump into. Tim, Polly and me all waited and guess what – he jumped right onto the verandah with us. It was so exciting, but I don’t think he will be feeling very well for a day or two. That must be shocking really.  

Mum said I have to tell everybody about this. Can you imagine having your house knocked over and then not having anywhere to go? That would be like being homeless. I cannot even bear to think about being homeless.  I love my home very much and next week, I am going to my second home – Quinlans.    Did I tell you I wasn’t able to go the last time Mum went because we heard there was a big snake under the house? Not one of those python things that eat the chickens, but a really nasty one that kills people (I wonder if they kill dogs?). Red-belly black Mum said. Anyway, I am hoping he has gone away and Mum said I have to be very, very careful.     

There is also going to be a Bush-Tucker lunch on the 27^th May – visit the Quinlan’s section of Mum’s website and you can come and meet me.  Hooray! Oh and I forgot, we had a baby Black Cockatoo and his parents in our paddock this morning. Gosh they are big and noisy.  

1st March 2012: Gosh what a busy day today. I am in the office rearing to go and guess what – there are a whole lot of people I HAVE NEVER MET BEFORE!!  Rose is here and I love Rose. She always has treats for me and Mum and I just went to the park and I was a “good boy”.                                           

You know Frank, well he has just fitted in with our team at home and sometimes he gets a little bossy. Can you imagine a “cat” getting bossy but he does. I think it is because he cannot go outside like me and play. I sometimes sit with him outside while he is in our cat enclosure but I think I would miss being out and about. Mum said cats cannot be trained like me not to kill things. 

Speaking of that, Mum said I was an incredibly good boy at Quinlan’s this week. Mum and I went there and we had to wade through the water and a big goanna was caught in a fence. Mum and two other ladies (that might help the koalas) sorted him out and he jumped onto a tree. I was a little naughty because I thought about chasing him, but Mum said NO and I listen. Mum said I am a bit of a teenager right now thinking I am a little too big for my boots. Maybe.

There have been some really good (sometimes boring) meetings today. Some man didn’t help to protect the koala and Mum said it is time for all of us, including dogs to understand how serious things are for the koala. I know that – and I am going to be writing a “blog” for PETS Magazine this year. I haven’t told Tim and Polly – they will think I have a swollen head.    

31th January 2012:  I just love our new cat Frank.   He has blue eyes, just like Logan the Koala.  He is only little, but isn’t scared at all of me and Tim and Polly.  Mum was so worried about Beau being sad when he lost Bob, but you know he loves Frank too and they are sharing their beds just like nothing has happened.  I am really well, except I am sick of all the rain we are having.  Mum has been planting trees in the rain and I am very good at sorting out all the pots.  I sort of chase them around until they are completely useless and then they get recycled in the recycling bin.  Mum wishes there were degradable pots made of something better than plastic, even if you can recycle them (don’t forget to do that will you?).  I was just having coffee with Mum on the verandah and I just had to write to you because Mr and Mrs Duck appear to want to have more babies in a big hollow in a tree at our house, but Mr and Mrs Cockatoo who actually ‘own’ that hollow won’t let them in.  It was sort of like a little war, or a battle I suppose, and Mum says that might be coming in ‘koalaland’ if the koala doesn’t get protected.  I am not sure what that all means, but Mum looks very serious about it all.  More soon, off to recycle more pots.

18th January 2012: Happy New Year! Thank you for my Christmas cards. Mum read them to me and there is now a new sign on the office door because I am not really a puppy anymore. Thank you Peter! You always remember me. I am going to be 2 this year and it is good that I am growing up because the koalas are really going to need me if what Mum says is right. We are all very busy at the moment planning our year. Lots of talking and writing things. Some of those meetings get a little boring for me, but they are very important. Mum isn’t at home much anymore and we all really miss her. Even though I don’t like to start on a sad note, but Bob, one of our cats, died from renal failure. Mum said koalas get that too, so that is another thing I have learnt. Beau was so sad that we had to get him a new friend. No-one likes to be alone. His name is Frank and he is gorgeous, even though I only get to see him through his Catmax enclosure. Our cats are not allowed out like me. I am not sure I would like to stay inside all the time, but they seem to love it. More soon.

12th December 2011: Mum is going on holidays soon and I don’t think I am going with her.  Life will be busy though because we have people who come and go and look after all of us which is just great and the time will go quickly.  Mum says it has been a very busy year, with me being sick and the koalas needing so much help. Thank you to everyone who loves me and next year we will have some exciting news for you all. It looks like I might be promoted to a new position but it is a secret and I cannot tell you anything.  Tim and Polly don’t even know. Mum says now I am such a big boy and that I have so much energy it is time for me to be put to work.

Please make sure that your animal friends are taken care of over Xmas like we are because we bring so much joy into your lives. Merry Christmas! Oh I forgot guess what – look what we found a neighbour’s yard on Saturday (photos below) – we have called her Maxine after the lady who knows Mum.  So exciting isn’t it?

18th November, 2011 – I know you don’t want to hear this, but I have been sick again with ticks. Mum rushed home because Tim had one. Our gorgeous “Shell” who baths us found one on Tim, but my sneaky little ticks were sitting so close to my skin that everyone missed them. Tim was fine and Mum thinks it is because he is older than me (I am still little). Anyway we rushed to the Vet and he gave me that nasty injection again and then Mum put me in the garage where it was lovely and quiet and dark and I could sleep for two days. I am feeling much better thank you and now I spend the day on the verandah with lots of toys and bones. Mum says I have to do that until I am a big boy and the tick season is gone. Mum thinks the ticks are worse because we have bandicoots, but they are so good for the environment, we cannot complain about that and Mum also thinks the ticks are used to all the nasty stuff we have on our coat, so she is now using geranium oil – she read about that somewhere. I smell beautiful now and we are not sure that it works but none of us have had ticks since she started. We get it on us every morning before Mum goes to work. Gosh I miss her when she goes. I think she is going away soon for something called Christmas and that Jenny our babysitter is coming. I love her, but I am hoping this all isn’t true. Quinlans in a couple of weeks and I will get to eat some pizza out of our new Cob Oven. Have you bought things for your friends for Christmas? You can on Mum’s website.

31st October, 2011 Sorry I have been out of touch, but Mum and I have been so busy. We built the Cob Oven with my friends from Rockcote – gee it looks beautiful and I helped clean up all the food that Mum made on the day. Very helpful. I received lots of cards for my birthday and I particularly loved Mr. Cain’s from England. He had 3 Golden Retrievers on the card, just like our family. Mum took a little video of me and Bob – I love Bob (watch out for the video, I will upload it later this week). He is my favourite cat at the moment. And my little Duck that I received when I was sick – well I just love it. Thank you so much Catherine.

10th October, 2011 – Hello Catherine. Mum said you have sent me a present because I have been sick. Thank you so much. As you can see I am better today but Mum says I have to be checked 3 times a day! I haven’t seen my present yet because Mum is going to leave it at the office so it keeps longer. You know I tend to get a bit rough with some of my teddies at home and I hear it is a beautiful duck. And it QUACKS. That will keep everyone on their toes at the office. Quinlans was just fantastic. We are building a Cob Oven that will cook yummy food. I love yummy food and while I was resting at Quinlans Mum said I grew – and my neck grew one whole notch on my collar. Rockcote are donating this new oven to us and are coming on the 21st October with all their staff (twenty of them) and I will be there to supervise. I organised all the sand in readiness and my friend Ian is sorting out washing up water in our new bush kitchen using three lovely blue garbage bins. I saw Mrs. Wallaby and her baby and I promise I didn’t run after her.

3rd October, 2011 – Mum and I are going to Quinlans. Lots to do. We are putting in water tanks so that we can wash up at Quinlandia and also the showers should be operational by Wednesday. Remember me helping in the sandpit, well that is a shower block now. I helped build that and it looks fantastic.

Mum said I have been living with her and our family for nearly a year now. 18th October is when Mum found me and boy am I glad I got to live with her and get to play at places like Quinlans.

I have been pretty good. There is a Scrub Turkey called Reg and he has built a huge mound at our place. It is all very messy and he is making that so a lady Scrub Turkey can lay her eggs. Well, they are really good to chase, because they sort of run like the Road Runner but Mum says I have to stop that. It is very difficult, but I am trying very hard. Anyway boy Scrub Turkeys take care of the eggs and Mum thinks that is fantastic. A lot of people don’t like birds like Reg, because they scratch up your garden, but we love it. Everything is welcome here.

I will let you know what I see at Quinlans.

26th September, 2011 – My Vet says I have to stay quiet for nearly a month and guess what, that is really, really hard. I want to play with Tim and Polly and go to Quinlans and play with Mum, but I have to stay quiet, because sometimes ticks can make you sick, even when you are home. Mum says I am getting better and she even took me for a quick swim in the salt water the other day. That made my nasty tick bites feel better, because there is still a big hole in my side. I am happier though and when I am watching TV I can play with Bob, a gorgeous cat. I love playing with him and he lets me sit on him. Even though I am much bigger than him, I am very gentle and he loves it. The other cat Beau, thinks he is too good to play with me. I have heard cats can be a bit like that.

15th September, 2011 – I love Vet Nurses because when you are really really sick, they let you put your head on their laps and they feed you because it is very hard to eat when you have a nasty tick bite. I have a huge hole on my side where that mean old tick bit me. Mum said it was the biggest tick she has ever seen on any of our family. My Vet Sue – she was the one who made me better, is nice too, but the nurses are really cool. I am going back to see them tomorrow and spending the day. Because I am a little bit famous, I am going to tell the world about how horrible ticks are for pets (I am Mum’s pet). Mum said not to get a swollen head, but I am going on TV (my first speaking (well barking) role).

2th September, 2011 – I am in hospital and hating it! I have been really sick this weekend – those horrible little ticks again. Mum says that it is better that I am in the hospital than at home so I can have a rest and recover and not be tempted to run in the paddocks and play with Tim and Polly. Mum checks me ALL the time and I still get them. I want to ask all the humans who read my diary to double check their dogs and cats for ticks because being this sick is really miserable.

6th September, 2011 – I have been really sick and I didn’t even get to celebrate my real birthday but I have decided to celebrate in October when I first met Mum. She was so worried about me, I could tell. Those little ticks are just horrible. I didn’t have to have injections. Our Vet (that is a Doctor for dogs) said Mum had taken really good care of me and I had to just rest. I really found it hard to walk a lot of the time. I’m all better now and Mum checks me all the time – which feels like a great pat anyway, so I love it. Now for some good news, a kookaburra is making a nest in our paddock and baby parrots are sitting in a tree just at the backdoor. They are beautiful but very noisy. They keep yelling at their mothers to feed them. It is Spring time here in Australia and everything looks fresh and new – just like me. Thanks for caring about me.

29th August, 2011 – I’m feeling a bit off colour today. Mum thinks it is from those nasty ticks. We are going to the vet this afternoon (I am not suppose to know but I heard Mum telling Rose). It was my Birthday last weekend but I chose not to celebrate, I am going to celebrate the day I met Mum and Dane and Tim and Polly. If you have any ideas on what should do let me know on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/MrDarcyAKF

18th August, 2011 – Did you hear that Mrs. Wallaby at Quinlans has a new joey in her pouch. It seems to me that lots of animals both at home and Quinlans are having babies. At the weekend Mum and I watched Mrs. and Mr. Cockatoo bring their new babies into our paddocks. I had to sit very quietly while they wandered around near our horse trough (I usually like to sit in that), which has lots of water in it. Gosh they can screech a lot. We also have a new snake in our chookpen and Mum said she is brand new. We have called her Claire and she is very very naughty because she has killed two chickens and she completely wasted them. Her “eyes are bigger than her belly” because she tried to swallow them and couldn’t. Poor chickens. Mum is locking everyone up in our chook tractor each night until we can “snake proof” our chicken coup. Gosh there is a lot to do, but as always I will help Mum with that job. I can carry hammers now. I think I am going to Quinlans soon, so Mum said I have to be very very good and not frighten all the new wallaby joeys.

PS Mum found a tick on me this morning – scary!! Make sure you regularly check all your doggy friends (cats too) for them.

Mrs Wallaby and her new joey

20th July, 2011 – Yesterday, I found a dead duck and Mum is hoping it isn’t Mr or Mrs Duck who are having babies. Because I am such a good Golden Retriever, I brought it to my friend Jayne’s place and thank goodness she believed me that it wasn’t me that killed it. She doesn’t know why it died and Mum hasn’t had time to look at the nest to see what is going on there, so there is a little bit of confusion going on about all this.

I don’t want to dob (tell on) but when Tim was little, apparently he did “kill” (isn’t that a terrible word) a little duck so Mum is a little worried that it could be Tim that might have done it. He doesn’t look guilty so that is a good thing. Perhaps Mr or Mrs Duck just died of natural causes, because Jayne saw it and she said it looked very peaceful. So, I had to tell you the horrible story and Mum said sometimes people don’t like to tell when their dog has killed a koala or anything else on their land because they feel guilty. I feel guilty and I didn’t do anything.

Another thing, Mum isn’t very good at fixing up that hole or better still, I am very good at unfixing it – shhsshhh…

13th July, 2011 – Mum and I saw Mr and Mrs Duck living in a big hollow near our place and Mum explained that when their babies hatch they will jump out of the hollow and fly down like parachutes. Gosh wouldn’t that be fun. OK – so much to tell you. I have been at Quinlans and it was freezing overnight. Mum and I went to bed early because it was so cold and we don’t really have any heating there yet. We made a fire and had bacon and eggs (yum) and it was very dark. You know the noises at Quinlans at night are a little scary and I decided that I had better sit really close to Mum to protect her. Maybe it was Bunyips, but gee there was a lot of noises that I never hear at home. Raechel, Mum and I had lots of boring meetings and then guess what – we went to a new section of Quinlans and look at me! Don’t I look HUGE now. Raechel said I had grown a LOT (click on the little picture below to see the BIG ONES!). P.S. Don’t tell Mum, but I can still fit through that hole in the fence and the pool next door to our house is a lot cleaner than the Quinlans Billabong. Shhssshh.

July, 2011 Mum is back. Whooppeeee. She thinks I have grown into a bigger boy and except for a bit of unsupervised gardening, I have been a really good.

Since my Grandpa went away, Tim and Polly have been much nicer to me and Mum says that Tim, my older brother looks like he is going to become a really good leader of our pack. He is a bit shy, so Mum always thought that he wouldn’t, but I think he might have just have loved Dane the Great so much that he didn’t bother. Tim seems to be bigger too and Mum said that is what happens to koala boys when they become an Alpha Koala in their colony, so we have lots in common with koalas. Isn’t that cool? That is an American word. Mum has been in America.

Mum said she had missed us all terribly, but that Dottie Dog, a friend of hers in Washington DC made her very welcome and let her play with her. Wasn’t that nice of Dottie? She has spots all over her. I suppose that is why she is called Dottie.

15th June, 2011 – Mum called from San Diego. She misses me and I miss her sooo much! She is doing a really good job so I can’t be too sad. She gave a presentation at something called the IABC 2011 World Conference and said everyone was really excited and wanted to help her save koalas (I wish we had conferences at the office they sound like they are a lot more fun than a meeting). I have included a photo of her telling everyone about – ME! I am glad Mum left us with Caroline – she is very good at looking after me. I had a bit of a mishap with a toy and nearly choked but Caroline rescued me.

Click to see the larger image

6th June, 2011 – Mum is going away to somewhere called San Diego. She is picking up something special. She is going to be gone for a long time but there is a lovely lady called Caroline looking after me and Tim and Polly.

30th May, 2011 – My Grandpa died on Friday. I don’t really know what that means, but he is just gone. Mum said he has gone somewhere where everyone is happy and there are lots of koalas and other animals. Tim has slept on Dane’s bed since he left. That is the bed right next to me. When I was little Dane used to keep me and Tim apart because Tim and Polly didn’t really like me much. Remember that? Well, that isn’t true anymore and this morning Tim even let me play with him because I used to play with Dane first thing when I got up before breakfast.

I went to the Vet with Dane and Mum and our friend Jayne. She was very kind to Mum who seemed very sad. That made me sad, so I am sitting beside her a lot. I think she likes that, well I know she loves that. I am her best friend.

25th May, 2011 – Mum says I am thinking that I am famous because I have been filmed for a French documentary on koalas. I was really good and smiled for the camera. Me, Tim, Polly and Dane had to pretend (that is being an actor) that we were going to bed, so people could see dogs really can be good and go to bed when it is dark and not get up to naughty things. But it was day time! And it was just pretend! So much fun. I had to walk around the paddocks with Mum (Polly did that too) but Dane and Tim said no, because they have done it all before. They just watched. Olivia was lovely to me. She loves animals and goes all around the world talking about them. That was more fun than meetings. Mum has to have them all the time. JM said I look more like a puppy at home. He saw me playing with the broom while Mum was sweeping but I am not allowed to actually touch the broom, just pretend to. That is being an actor too I suppose.

10th May, 2011. – You know that hole in the fence I told you about. Well, Mum didn’t do a really good job fixing that because I have been visiting the dog next door again. She is really beautiful and I love going to play with her. Mum didn’t yell at me today, she just said very quietly “soon, you will be too big to get through that hole”. Mum is so clever isn’t she, to know stuff like that. And she fixed it (again). I was supposed to come to work today, but, well, I was so wet from swimming in the creek, I was allowed to stay home. Now to wild dogs. Did you know that they can really hurt people, animals and even koalas. Mum said she thinks they might be hurting koalas far more than she originally thought and a man is going to say all that in Canberra next week. Mum is going away too because she has to tell people a lot about what is happening to the koalas. I help her do that too. Here is a picture of me and my Grandpa “watching TV”

Click photo to see full size image

28th April, 2011. – Did you know that chocolate is really bad for dogs?. Mum had little kids over at Easter time and they were not allowed to give me chocolate, but we had lots of bones instead. I think they taste better and of course you can always dig them in the ground for later. I got into terrible trouble over the Easter break. I found a hole in the fence and worried Mum a lot because I went missing. Polly was really worried about me so she “dobbed” on me to Mum and showed her where the hole in the fence was. Gosh Mum can be scary when you come back through the fence in the dark and she is there screaming at you. I don’t hear the words ” NAUGHTY BOY” very often. Usually it is a lovely Hello Mr. Darcy. I think I prefer the latter so don’t think I want to do that again. Anyway I can’t because I had to carry the fencing wire to patch it up. I enjoyed doing that, so there was some fun at the end of it all. Mum says I am behaving like a naughty teenager, so I guess that means I am growing up. I am nearly as big as Polly, but not Dane, my Grandpa who I love very much. Quinlans lunch went very well. I actually did not get invited to the actual lunch but helped Raechel and Mum get ready for it. Everyone loved it.

14th April, 2011 – You know those things I told you about ages ago, the things that have long tails and yell a lot. Well I now know what they are. They are cats! The reason it has taken so long to find out, is because I have never been inside our house before. Mum said I was too little and too bouncy for inside. The big dogs can and I had to be put to bed early. Now I am bigger, I am allowed in, even though I am still a little bouncy, but gee those cats are good fun. Bob especially loves me and I love pulling his tail. Technically it isn’t chasing, but Mum says ah ah every now and again and I have to stop and then be good. Our cats are not allowed out into the garden, because you cannot train them like me. They kill things. Mum says they are NBK’s, (Natural Born Killers). They don’t look nasty and they sort of purr a lot when they see me, but I trust Mum, so that must be right. Quinlans for 5 days next week and I guess I will be allowed to swim again. Yeah!

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8th April, 2011 UPDATE: Photos of me helping with the shower block at Quinlans

8th April, 2011 I have been at Quinlans this week with Mum because she is getting ready for a big lunch there next week. I helped build the new shower block with Ian (I am going to post photos later today) and he invited me (and Mum) to have dinner at his house. He has a B&B where people can have a bath with a fire under it right on the side of a mountain. He loves dogs and his dog, Bear is old like my Grandpa Dane. I had to be very good and not be too rough with him.

I swam in the billabong at Quinlans for the first time. I am very brave because it was quite deep water. Mum says I am big enough to do that now, even when it is flowing quite hard. She says I have learnt from the floods and how dangerous it can be.
I will be going to the lunch and if you want to go, you will have to be quick. There will be Bush Tucker and lots of lovely people.

It is getting cold at Quinlans now, the summer is going away and I think winter is coming because my coat is getting a little furrier.

Have a great weekend.

4th April, 2011 I chewed up one of Mum’s hats the other day. I didn’t mean to do it. It just happened. I don’t think she is going to be able to wear it again either.

Mum thinks it is because I had such a great time visiting Acland and my friends out there, that I was a little bored.  It was raining too. Tim and Polly didn’t want to play with me.  My Grandpa told me not to do it.   It wasn’t my fault, really it wasn’t.  It was a dog that came in from down the road.  Not! It wasn’t.  It was me.

Mum says it is because I am a teenager and that I am getting a little too big for my boots.  I don’t wear boots, but I actually got to wear a bandana over the last couple of days.  It was bright yellow  and it says No Mines (in koala habitat). On the back it says “If arrested, please return this dog to the AKF”.   I heard some people are being arrested. I wonder what that means?   Would that mean I cannot stay at home?  I think it does. Why would they arrest people trying to protect koalas? Hmmmmm.  Would they arrest me for chewing up a hat?   Don’t think so.  Phew.  Had a great weekend with Mum. Wonder if I will be in the office this week?

22nd March, 2011 – I have heard that a lady teaches her little boy to read by reading my blog. Isn’t that the best thing you have ever heard, so hello to you. I am still learning lots of things and at the weekend, I was brave enough to go swimming in the creek with Tim and Polly. The day before I got stuck and had to be pulled out because we have had lots of rain and I jumped in without thinking how to get out. That was very silly wasn’t it? . ItI can be very boring in the rain. I cannot go and play in the paddocks and Dane just wants to sit on his bed and snooze. Dane is my Grandpa and this morning I was growling at him to play – he loved it. We play the grrrrrr game together. I growl at him and he growls back at me. Terrific.

17th March, 2011 – Mum is starting to hear about other good dogs. Last night she went to a thing (I had to stay home again) for dogs and people that were hurt in the floods and everyone knows she is the Koala Woman. One lady told her about a dog (same brand as me) who had “pointed” at a koala that was stuck in a front door (a bit like Winnie the Pooh stuck in his hole). Her dog would never hurt wildlife but the lady was really good and put her dog in the laundry while the koala got himself out of the door and went safely up the tree. Cool story eh? I would have done that too I think. Mum is putting a green ribbon on me today and said I should bark Irish today.

th March, 2011 – Mum bought me some stuff back from the Taste of the Liverpool Plains – and I had to stay home and eat it.

4th March, 2011 – Just a quick note to let you know I am at home having fun with my babysitter Jenny. Mum is in Gunnedah at the Taste of Liverpool Plains Festival. It sounds like great fun with lots of yummy food from the Plains to taste. Mum is there as something called a guest speaker, she says her and the other guest speakers are talking about how important the area is for Australia’s food security. She says that everyone is worried that the area is going to be turned into coal mines and apparently you can’t eat coal. Mum is telling everyone how good mapping stops this sort of thing happening. Sounds very important. Have a good weekend.

28th February, 2011 – Mum is going away to Gunnedah on Thursday to talk about koalas and she is going by plane so I am not allowed to go. I have to stay home with my grandpa and a baby-sitter. This is the first time Mum has left me and she hopes I am going to be good. Jenny is our baby-sitter and she loves us, so I think it will be great fun. I hear there is going to be new fresh bones every day she is away. That all sounds pretty encouraging. I helped Mum all weekend with planting again. I am very good putting the pots away and those rakes and brooms are really terrific to play with as well.

23rd February, 2011 – I went swimming in the creek this morning. Boy was it muddy and Mum said I had to stay home. I also had a little “accident” in the office yesterday too when the Postman came. I was so excited to see him. Dane had to stay home today because his hips are sore. When we got home, he was very cross when he realised he had missed out on the long walk. I was so tired after our swim that I didn’t even get to say goodbye to Mum when she went to work. I bet the girls are missing me but you know I love staying at home too. So hard to make the decision to come to work. Board meeting in the morning. Will be up bright and early.

16th February, 2011 – I am off to the Vet today, having an operation. Mum says it will keep me being a boy that doesn’t chase girls. Why would I do that when I have Mum? I love her and gosh we had a great time at Quinlans. I was very busy and helped Raechel, Craig and Paulette set up a new kitchen. I spent a lot of time in the sandpit organizing all the sand for the concrete. A very important job and when it rained in the Billabong, I had to try and catch all the rain drops. That is a very big job and it took me hours. They seem to disappear as quickly as they came down from the sky. We had to walk all the time ,because the road has been flooded, but we loved it. Mum and I would go down each morning and night looking for platypus and Mr. and Mrs. Greentree Frog, as always were on the back verandah. I passed my first kangaoor (or was it a wallaby) test. I heard boing, boing, boing and there they were. When I don’t know what something is, I usually sit down and think about it a while so it was great for Mum to teach me that I just have to look at them, not run after them and scare them. Gee they are really cool. Those laughing birds were there again. Think I am staying at home for a couple of days. Mum says I might not feel very well.

me in the sandpit

8th February, 2011 – In a couple of days Mum and I are going to Quinlans. This is the first time I will have been there since the floods. We might have to walk up to the house because the road we normally travel on is all washed out. I won’t mind that at all, but everyone will have to carry all our food up a long drive-way.

Over the summer I have been helping Mum plant trees at our place, and guess what, we are going to be doing that at Quinlans. I know how to do that – I am very good at carrying the empty pots once the trees have gone into the ground. I did actually take one tree out of the ground. Mum said I am not allowed to do that but gee they come out easily.  Don’t tell anyone, but yesterday when I was left at home with my family (I didn’t go to work), I chewed Mum’s Garden hat – just the big flower of it. She told me she knew I would do something naughty. How do Mum’s know that stuff I wonder.

2nd February, 2011 – This has been a very busy week. I attended lots of meetings in the Board room. Apparently there are some really important documents being written for some sort of Inquiry into the koalas and why they are disappearing. I got a little bored of listening to it all and went to sleep a couple of times and then we had dinner. That was great and of course I got to help to clean up. Walking through the city at night time with Mum was really fun too. So different from where I live in the bush. You don’t see many dogs – only dogs like me who are helping people who cannot see. They are very clever dogs. . They are not allowed to talk to me. Mum said I could have been one of those dogs. There are lots of birds – all the same in the city too. Yesterday at lunchtime Mum and I watched hundreds of them. They are called pigeons, not as pretty as the ones at my house which are white and yellow and pink and grey and even ones that sound like they are laughing. I think this document Mum and the team are writing is pretty important. Read Mum’s Diary if you want to.

28th January, 2011 – Sad news. The Queens (chickens) have drowned in our pool.
Mum is really sad and just didn’t think they would try and swim in the pool. Mum told me this happens to koalas and that everyone has to put a rope in the pool so they can cling on to that when they fall in. I don’t think the Queens would have known how to do that, but we are going to miss them. They had a very happy life though. They loved living out there and not in a cage.Mum says this can happen to little children and even little puppies like me, so everyone has to be very careful. I will always remember to be safe around water now I have seen this, I really will.
Be careful everyone.

17th January, 2011 – the sun is shining and I am very glad the rain is gone. Mum and I have had a great holiday and guess what, Tim has decided to play teddy with me. Mum gives us all lots of teddies and usually he plays tug of war with Polly, but now he wants me to play. Whooppeee! The Queens and I are very good friends and they don’t seem to mind if I sort of run at them, which gives them a bit of a fright (but it is fun). I heard a rumour that my sister Polly hurt a chook (that is Australian for chicken), when she was little and she got into terrible trouble. She always looks very upset when I play a little hard with the chickens. She still doesn’t like me much, so she won’t tell me what she did when she was little. Even so, I am not so little any more. I can now go on longer walks now and pretty much I do everything Tim and Polly do, well, that isn’t quite true. They swim in the creek, I am a little bit scared about that yet. I want to, but gee, it does look scary. The top step of the pool for me right now, and Mum is teaching me to swim in the pool but makes sure I know how to get back and out of the pool. Gee, she is a good Mum to me. She says we have a busy year, but today, well, I suppose I am still on hols!

11th January, 2011
Me with the two Queens
Just thought I would put up a photo of the Queens (see yesterday’s entry for details) for you all to look at.

Holdiay Blog 10th January, 2011 – I am not coming back to work until next Monday, but I thought you might be missing me. Gee, Christmas is fun. I got lots of presents and of course Christmas dinner. Because there were so many people coming and going, I have had to help with the clean up and I am getting very good at it.  Tim and Polly show me how.

Mum got a chook tractor for her present (photo coming) and it was so funny because the two little black chooks that came with it, don’t like being in there. They are called Queen Victoria and Queen Elizabeth because they don’t like working.  They are now living in the pool area and seem to love it.  Mum says they look like they have “cozzies” on, so it is a perfect place for them.  

I must confess, I love looking at them.  They look completely different to real chooks and I did sniff them which made them mad.

By and large I have been a very good boy.  I did not go in the flood waters when Mum took us all for a look at all the water and at Quinlans Mum showed me how to just sit on the edge and look at it.     Mum drove through the water too fast and her number plate came off. She seemed a little flustered after that.  She said she was silly. I cannot imagine Mum being flustered, but there you go.  

I helped plant all the bush tucker food at Quinlans and Mum says when I am really big like Dane, that it will be making lots of yummy food. She said I will be teaching a new puppy how to be good when I am twelve. 
 
I got my teeth and there seem to be even bigger ones coming along the sides.  I will show you when I get back.   Back to holidays, see you soon!

16th December, 2010 – We had Secret Santa today and everyone is very happy because it is Xmas. I am going to Quinlans next week with Mum as there are lots of people planting trees and putting in bush tucker. Mum said we are going to say thank you to everyone for helping with drinks and nibbles. I hope they are serving bones and, come to think of it, Jim the butcher in Kenilworth has given me some bones so things are looking very bright. Hello to the two gorgeous ladies in Charlotte Street who love me. I love seeing you. I do miss the puppies at home when I go to Quinlans but Mum said we are going to spend a lot of time together over Xmas and I will be back at work on 17th January. If I don’t write again before Xmas, have a fun time.

14th December, 2010
It seems like I am going to get my wish and my two new front teeth are growing nicely.   Gosh, they look like they are going to be big. Rose said she will take a photo if she gets time.  She is busy doing Adopt a Koala thingo’s for Xmas presents.   Mum says I am getting a big boy now and there are certain things I am allowed to do and some that I am not allowed to do.

The No’s: Chasing cane toads. Chasing butterflies (this is very difficult not to do because they do flip around the place).  Digging up new plants, especially the red and white ones for Christmas.
The Yes’s: Having fun with my brothers and sisters. Chewing up all the teddies that I get (they come from the Salvation Army and Mum says she only gets the ones that won’t find good homes). And pulling out weeds which I really love. Mum and I do that a lot.

Dane, my grandfather has a special Christmas collar and he loves it. I might get one for Christmas if I am lucky. Apparently I won’t be at the office for a few weeks because Mum is going on holidays and she keeps saying what fun we will have in the pool. I tried that over the weekend. I got to sit on the top step and gee, when you look down at your feet in that water, my legs look shorter. Anyway, I will look forward to swimming in the pool – whatever that means.

I am off to Quinlans before Xmas so I will write from there. I was very useful there last week. While the girls were painting the dormitory I got to re-arrange all the sand in the shower block.  I did an excellent job.

Tuesday 7th December, 2010
I have a little bit of paint on my nose today, I was helping paint the dormitory at Quinlans yesterday. Mum and I are talking to Sonya at Mooloolaba Tafe today. I hope she will include my blog in her exhibition on sustainability.

Thursday 2nd December, 2010
Last night I picked up a cane toad and Mum got so cross she yelled “PUT THAT TOAD DOWN MR DARCY”. Needless to say I dropped it immediately. Then Mum nearly drowned me when she tried to wash my mouth out. I don’t think she got much sleep last night she kept coming into the Doggie Dormatory and checking on me.

Monday 29th November, 2010
Mum is starting to call me “Sweetie” and that is not my name – it is Mr. Darcy. She says it to Dane too sometimes because he is so nice and patient with me. Had a great weekend playing at home. Polly even played with me, and those chooks – well I think I might have to confess, not that I chased them, but gosh, it is great being in that pen. Lots of stuff to chew on. Mum doesn’t call me Sweetie then – she sort of yells “get out of there”. I think she is regretting that I started my chook lessons in there, but hey, it won’t kill me.

Thursday 26th November, 2010
Mum went to Lone Pine yesterday with a film crew so I stayed home with my family. They were very happy to have me and this morning I sort of cried when I had to leave them, but when I got here Rose and Lorraine were so happy to see me that I forgot about home completely. Everyone says I am getting bigger and bigger and that because of my big feet that I am going to be a big dog – I am not sure how they know those things, but they say it with great authority. Michelle is coming to give me a bath tomorrow. I love Shell – that is her nickname. She has bathed my family for over 12 years. She loves us all.

Everyone here is very busy and it is getting hotter. It is nearly summer – it starts on December 1. I think that means I will lie in the kitchen a lot more when I haven’t got things to do like carry things for Lorraine.

Monday 22nd November, 2010
Mum and I just went to a Rally called ‘Close the Gates’. It is a group of farmers that live in Queensland who do not want coal or gas to destroy their land, because that is where all of us, including us dogs, get our food. We met some of those farmers last week in the bush. There are koalas in their trees too. I am learning such a lot working with Mum. A nasty man photographed everyone. I think I now have a “doggier”. The weekend was very busy and I really didn’t want to come to work today. Leaving Dane, Tim and Polly was tough, but once I got here, well all the girls here at AKF were so pleased to see me – how could I not come? And of course Lorraine needs me for the merchandise. I get things off the shelf for her.

Thursday 18th November, 2010
Back in the office today after two really busy days. Jon Michael (JM) and Belinda came with me and Mum into the bush. Before we went JM – that’s his nickname, like mine is Darcy, filmed me at home. JM has a camera so he tooks lots of pictures of me and here is a link to my latest video. As you will see we met a snake at home, but I really didn’t take much notice. I was more interested in the birds who kept yelling that there was one. Mum says this snake isn’t dangerous, but there are dangerous snakes around. Hmmm… I will have to think about that. I like to think about things. Anyway, there is now video evidence that I don’t chase chooks. See what a good boy I am! And those things that yell at me (diary entry Monday 15th) – there is a picture of them too.

Wednesday 17th November, 2010
I stayed in a motel last night. It was good fun but I stayed really close to mum. For breakfast I had boiled eggs (yum) and then I met two lovely dogs called Lacy and Delta.

Tuesday 16th November, 2010
Going bush with Mum until Thursday, will tell you all about it when I get back.

Monday 15th November, 2010
I think I have Monday-itis today, just lots of popping out to the toilet and then sleeping on the lovely cool kitchen floor. The weekend was incredibly busy. Dane, my grandpa has taught me how to play tug of war. I love it. Tim and Polly are defintely nicer and I have to get my biscuit when I go to bed last. Polly likes that because she was always last before I came along. I have absolutely, definitely and completely mastered not chasing chooks but there are new things I hadn’t noticed before. They sort of scream at me from inside this big cage. I will keep you informed about what they are. They have long tails and make a sort of wailing sound. Maybe you can guess what they are and let me know.

Thursday, 11th November, 2010
Back from Quinlans which was very busy. Mum spoke with lots of people about doing up the shower block and also getting a whole stack of trees donated. This will be particularly good for me. At home, my grandpa Dane really missed me. I think he put lots of my teddies on my bed hoping I would come back late. Anyway when I got home it was great to play with him and I think Tim and Polly are starting to like me. I ran with them in the paddock this morning and they didn’t yell at me once. At Quinlans, Mum and I sat with two huge green frogs that were sitting on the back step. I promise I didn’t jump at them – they were really nice. On Monday, I had a whole day in the office without Mum. She was visiting Couran Cove, which is a beautiful resort, so all in all it has been a very busy week for Mum as well as me. I told all the girls today that there would be no “accidents”, and at the time of writing, there hasn’t been!

Tuesday 9th November, 2010
Sorry I can’t update my diary today I am off to Quinlans with Mum. Will update you all on Thursday. By the way I think I have really mastered this chook thing…

Monday 8th November, 2010
Mum has gone off to koala meetings all day and dropped me off to spend the day in the office with the girls. I have all my toys here, and in between sleeps Rose takes me downstairs in the back alley so I can sniff all the good smells. She gets so excited when I go to the toilet down here!! She doesn’t get that excited when I do it upstairs on the carpet. I wonder why?

Friday 5th November, 2010
I am not going into the office today, Mum says I have been too busy and need a rest.  Last night I got put to bed early as usual because there were a lot of yukky things called “canetoads” running around the garden. Mum says they are very dangerous.   She always wanders around at night with a torch picking them up and putting them in the fridge, so they can go to sleep peacefully, but they keep coming back.   I am absolutely not allowed to touch them.  Tim, Polly and Dane know that already because she taught them properly.  I don’t think I have quite mastered it yet, but I am sure I will.

Tim, Polly and Mum went for a walk early this morning.  I had to stay home and look after Dane.  He isn’t allowed to go anymore because he has sore legs (I think he is old), but he is a great playmate and yesterday when it was raining, well he let me snuggle up to him so I wasn’t cold.  He can play tug of war too which is terrific.

Wednesday 3rd November, 2010 – I have mastered not chasing the chooks. Jayne, my friend at home, said I was “walking with chooks, not dancing with wolves”. She is very proud of me about that. Then I went to Quinlans and had a baby-sitter, Liane while Mum was talking to lots of people about our new place. I saw yellow-tailed black cockatoos, 5 of them. Gosh they are so noisy, but I listened very intently. One lady wants to have “deep listening at Quinlans”, so everyone can hear all the birds. I think I am going to be good at that. Didn’t see any snakes, but I wasn’t allowed out on my own. I had to be on a lead, which was still fun and the verandah at Quinlans where everyone has lunch is a lovely place to snooze. I also went for a quick swim at the beach on Sunday. I didn’t really like the waves, but did check out the billabong at Quinlans. There was another puppy in the water, but no matter how hard I tried, he just wouldn’t come out and play. Perhaps next time. Talking to all the girls on the beach is fun, they all seem to adore me, which is nice. This morning, after mastering getting into that noisy lift and also walking across that busy street, some ladies called out “Mr. Darcy”. Great they remembered me. The Police next door chat a lot too.

Everyone says I have grown but still very cute. Photos soon.

Thursday 28th October, 2010
It has been such a busy week. Over the weekend I learnt lots of lessons about not chasing chooks, but it is very hard not too. They run so fast, but gosh when they peck you, that isn’t good. Then back to the office. I now know the right door at Gumtree House and this morning I ran up the stairs to meet the girls. They really missed me because I wasn’t in yesterday. Mum said I had to stay home, to sleep and grow. Everyone thinks I am bigger. Dane, my grandfather taught me how to play this morning and I loved it. Tim and Polly, well I think they like me better, or at least have accepted I am here to stay (and I am). I love living with Mum and also coming to the office. Mum went to a public meeting the other night, something about cutting down trees, but I had to sit in the car and wait. I was very good. Saw a Tawny Frogmouth Owl and I am not allowed to chase them – not even once.

Friday 22nd October, 2010    
Mum is at an important lunch today so I have come in to help out the girls at the office. I have been very busy patrolling to office making sure everything is in its right place. I am looking forward to the weekend I have been working hard and learning lots this week and can’t wait to relax with Mum, Dane, Tim and Polly.

Thursday 21st October, 2010    
I was exhausted when I got home last night, but very happy to be back in the office this morning. Everything seems familiar and I think I have home sorted out too. This morning at home I met these things called ‘chooks’. Mum was collecting funny looking round things, and I thought I would bark at her and them. Mum didn’t like that much. She said “OK – into the chook pen with you” and guess what, they are huge! And these feathery things called chooks all agreed that I should be told “don’t speak to us like that young man”. Phew, was I glad to get out of there. They have very sharp beaks. I have heard that it is great to chase them, but I have a feeling I am not going to be allowed to.

Wednesday 20th October 2010:
Mum picked me up at Murgon in Queensland two days ago. I was born in the bush and I am now 8 weeks old – a perfect time to leave my birth mother. I have been very busy getting to know Dane, Polly and Tim (Tim doesn’t like me). Dane absolutely loves me and keeps giving me teddies to play with. Dane is like a grandfather, and Tim and Polly are like big brothers and sisters. They say I am a golden retriever like them.

I have a big job ahead of me. I have already visited Quinlans and Mum says we will be up there a lot teaching people from all over the world about how we can all live in harmony together. There are snakes there, so I have to be careful, but the most important thing for me to learn and to teach is not to hurt wildlife. I am sure I can do it. In the meantime, life is pretty good. I am meeting the koala team and I like them all. I sit in the main office with Jane keeping a watchful eye, and occasionally I visit Mum’s office. She is very busy.