Victorian koala carer to open Lismore conference

May 11, 2009

Koala carer and activist Colleen Wood (pictured) has had her hands full since the February bushfires. Together with veterinarian Dr John Butler, her team at the Southern Ash Wildlife Shelter in Rawson, Gippsland, has worked day and night to deal with over 100 fire-damaged koalas. Three months on, 57 animals are still in care at Southern Ash.

Colleen, who is passionate about the contribution that koala rehabilitators can make to the conservation effort, has accepted Friends of the Koala’s invitation to open the Koala Conservation Conference which is being held in Lismore on Friday 22 May.

President Lorraine Vass said: “We’re delighted that Colleen has agreed to participate in the conference and who better to open?

“The image that drew the world’s attention to the Victorian tragedy was of a firefighter offering water to a disoriented koala.

“But there is so much more to tell and to be understood about the recent Victorian experience; in particular its significance for koala conservation.

“Having worked with koalas within Victoria’s management framework for 14 years, Colleen is just the woman to speak frankly on this and many other issues related to koala conservation policy.”

The Koala Conservation Conference will be held at the Whitebrook Theatre, Southern Cross University (Lismore Campus) on Friday 22 May 2009 starting at 9am.

It will attract koala and other wildlife carers, environmental activists, veterinarians, elected representatives, government agencies, academics and researchers, planners and other practitioners, and the interested general public.

A mix of papers and presentations delivered by academics, a practising ecologist, an environmental lawyer, a wildlife veterinarian and researcher, and wildlife rehabilitators will set the scene for the development of an action agenda for koala conservation on the Northern Rivers to take to all three levels of government.

Registration forms are available on Friends of the Koala’s website www.friendsofthekoala.org or at the Koala Care Centre in Rifle Range Road, East Lismore. Enquiries can be directed to the president on 6629 8388.

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