Greater Sydney Landcare’s Koala Officer Xuela Sledge featured in Behind the News in September.
Xuela led Epping North Primary on a guided walk through Smiths Creek Reserve, talking about the local koala population and how to spot signs that Koalas are in the area.
Source: ABC’s BTN (Behind the News)
“A group of year 5 Epping North PS kids were inspired to get active and raise money for Koalas after learning last year that Koalas have been moved to the endangered list.
Friends Scarlett, Emerson, Isabelle and Evie decided to help raise awareness about how development in their area is destroying the habitat of Sydney’s (and NSW’s) last remaining healthy Koala colony.
They set up a cake and lemonade stall – and asked the community for cake donations to sell. They hoped to raise $90 to adopt a Koala from the Port Macquarie Koala Hospital. They were overwhelmed with support and raised $1000 – completely selling out of cakes and lemonade!!
Inspired by their action – the Environment Monitors at Epping North decided to hold a ‘wear a Koala mask to school’ day and raised another $500. Now, every classroom was able to adopt a Koala.
This year – in response to a development being built through Sydney’s last healthy Koala colony – the same group of friends made signs and joined the Big Koala Picnic where they raised money for the Total Environment Centre (TEC).
As part of this action a short video was recorded of them sharing messages supporting Koalas and it was then shared on social media. Through that video, the Save Sydney’s Koala Group contacted Landcare who invited the school on a walk through Smiths Creek Reserve wildlife corridor. We were guided on the walk by Koala Officer Xuela Sledge to help them spot the Koalas in the wild.
They also spoke to local South Sydney koala expert Barry Durman who explained why wildlife corridors are so important to koala numbers.”
Thank you Epping North Primary and Behind the News for spreading awareness of Sydney’s Koalas and encouraging Koala conservation.
