Over 400 concerned local

residents attended the

protest against a Develop-

ment Application lodged

for two townhouses to be

built within the Mambo

Wetlands “Reserve” on

Sunday 1st October.

Unbelievably this precious

6 hectares of critical habi-

tat was sold off by the De-

partment of Education as

surplus to their needs for a

paltry $250,000 through an

online Auction in Septem-

ber last year. http://

www.portstephensexamine

r.com.au/story/4191591/

mambo-sale-mistake/

The community had just 3

weeks’ notice of this sale

and our voices had no

effect on the Education

Department’s determined

process. Not only is Mam-

bo critical wildlife habitat,

but an important wetlands

for fish and oysters, and an

Aboriginal Heritage site.

Please make a submission

to Port Stephens Council

to object to the Develop-

ment Application by 27

October and write to MPs

to convince the govern-

ment to buy back this vital

and precious habitat.

www.trra.com.au provides

guidance on what to write.

Lead Story Headline

PORT STEPHENS KOALAS

Newsletter Issue

October 2017

Inside this issue

New Treescape rehabilitation facilities

2

Tax deductible donations

2

Morton is growing up wonderfully

3

Motor vehicle and train accidents

3

Koalas and dogs don’t mix

3

Sponsors and Fundraising

4

RIP—Mikayla 4

Ned — third time unlucky

4

Koala statistics 5

Best place to see PS Koalas

5

Rescue info 6

Oakvale Farm sponsorship

6

Mambo Wetlands—development?

www.portstephenskoalas.com.au www.facebook.com/portstephenskoalas/

Port Stephens Koalas—Endangered The NSW Threatened Spe-

cies Scientific Committee

advised us in August that

they have Preliminarily

Listed as Endangered (no

longer just Vulnerable) the

koalas of Port Stephens

east of the pacific highway,

but not the whole shire of

Port Stephens. We believe

those koalas west of the

highway are also at high

risk of extinction because

of the continuing pressure

of urban expansion, how-

ever we also accept that

there are no statistics to

support this view. Our sta-

tistics are better for our

licensed area: the Tomaree

and Tilligerry peninsulas.

After a period for public

comment, we will be ad-

vised of the Committee’s

Final Determination.

We hope an Endangered

Determination will help us

to preserve koala habitat

and corridors and raise

funds more easily.

New rehabilitation facilities operating at Treescape

After months of hard work, especially

by our Secretary Mr Ron Land, acting

as Site Project Manager with Port

Stephens Council, we now have four

new rehabilitation yards and a site

shed operational at Treescape near

Anna Bay. This facility is not open to

the public as the koalas there are be-

ing rehabilitated with the intention of

returning them to the wild under our

OEH rehabilitation licence.

We are excited that our facilities have

expanded. We have also turned a

major corner in our operations by

employing Kate King as Hospital Coor-

dinator. Kate lives on site to provide

extra security in addition to surveil-

lance cameras in operation. Kate has

12 years of experience with captive

koalas and has been volunteering to

train with Carers of sick koalas since

early this year.

Construction costs have largely been

met by our Community Building Pro-

ject Grant - thanks Kate Washington!

Further construction in 2018 will provide garage facilities for our res-

cue vehicles and other equipment, more appropriate accommodation

for the Hospital Coordinator, as well as a dedicated hospital/research

facility and a tourist facility which is to be run by Council staff. Port

Stephens Koalas will have an income stream from admission fees but

still be dedicated solely to the care of the koalas. More fenced enclo-

sures will be built for koala joeys to be kept well away from the public

to dehumanise prior to release, and for long term rehabilitation needs.

If you are interested in volunteering at the hospital, there is already a

waiting list but you must be a member and submit a volunteer applica-

tion form that is available at www.portstephenskoalas.com.au

We’ve had many enquiries about whether donations to Port Ste-

phens Koalas are tax deductible. The answer is YES! We applied for

Deductible Gift Recipient status last September, and we are at last

listed on the Register of Environmental Organisations as of 11 Octo-

ber 2017. You can now claim your donations as a Tax Deduction.

Port Stephens Koalas memberships are for the financial year, so if

you haven’t yet renewed and joined prior to May this year, please

visit our website www.portstephenskoalas.com.au now. Individual

memberships are just $10 per year, so please think about making an

annual donation while you are at it.

Your donations go directly to koala care. All our carers, rescuers, and

Board of Directors are volunteers. With our hospital plans your con-

tributions will be very much appreciated.

Tax Deductible donations—PSK is REO listed at last!

Morton is growing up wonderfully

Morton who is eleven months old is

just a few grams away from being

weaned. As soon as he can gain suffi-

cient weight by just eating leaf he will

leave his human mummy of the last six

months and start the de-humanising

process in a large outdoor enclosure

complete with a large tree.

Morton has had lots of tree climbing

practice already. A cautious koala, he

has steadily gained confidence in his

climbing skills and is now profi-

cient in tackling many types of

trees.

A huge amount of time has

been spent in helping him get

this far and we are all so proud

of this little chap.

PSK is proud of Morton’s carer

Julie Jennings too. It’s hard

work raising a joey. Her whole

family supports her dedication.

unattended the koala will

surely die.

Amazingly during August we

were brought a large male ko-

ala who was hit by a train near

Dora Creek. It was soon appar-

ent that he would not survive

the massive head trauma but

he was safe, warm and com-

fortable until the end.

Palliative care is what Carers

provide too often, as well as

treating and rehabilitating

those strong enough to survive

and be returned to the wild.

When the weather warms up, the

koalas get on the move. Parents

push their adolescent children away

to find their own territory, and with

roads encircling the best habitat,

this is very dangerous.

Our roads claimed 6 koalas during

July-August alone. Breeding season

is on now so please slow down at

night on all main roads eg Port Ste-

phens Drive, Nelson Bay Rd, Clar-

ence Town Rd and many more. If a

koala is brought to us straight after

it’s been hit, we have some success,

but if left on the side of the road

We’ve had a few koalas bitten by dogs

in the last few months. Many people

are willing to restrain their dogs,

which is very important in the evening

when koalas are most likely to wander

across their yard to reach a sweet

smelling tree. If a koala is in your yard

then please take your pets inside until

it moves on—usually at dusk or dawn.

Pictured left is a young male koala

under anaesthetic named Curious

Motor vehicle and train accidents have mixed results

Koalas and dogs don’t mix

George because he approached

some dogs in their pen. They tried

to pull him through the wire by his

arm at the home of a Noah’s Ark

Vet Nurse who rescued him. His

arm has now been stitched up by Dr

Don Hudson and after a course of

antiobiotics while he heals, he will

be able to go home.

Hopefully he’s learned not to go

near dogs again!

Ned — third time proves unlucky

Poor Ned the koala with scoliosis featured in this space last issue

was hit by a car on Frost Road for the third time this year and killed.

He recovered from the previous two hits. If you’re wondering, we

have to return adult koalas, especially males, to their own territory

when released or they simply walk back there again anyway.

Look out! Koalas about!

SLOW DOWN FROM DUSK TO DAWN PLEASE!

Sponsors and Fundraising efforts

We’ve been working hard at fundraising keeping the hospital in

mind. Many people are giving generously:

Powercourt’s Vanessa and Mark Keating sponsored the turf

(fake grass) for all the new rehabs, installing and acquiring it

from their supplier Grassman for free. Value—$7000!

Active Tree Services lopped all the trees around our new facili-

ties to prevent escape and so wild koalas can’t get in either.

Value—approximately $5000!

The wonderful ladies at Palm Lake Resort, Fern Bay for auc-

tioned off their beautiful hand made quilt. They donated $823.

Our sausage sizzle and raffle outside Woolworths Salamander

on 15 July raised $678.

Participating in the Port Stephens Council Koala Gala on 5

July at Nelson Bay Marina raised another $700.

A Go Fund Me promotion is on now which has raised about

half of our $10,000 target. Click here to help us reach the tar-

get. Or could you please encourage a friend or relative to do-

nate or put our Go Fund Me link on a Facebook page?

PSK website donations/adoptions keep rolling in too as do

membership payments. Thank you for your support!

RIP—Mikayla

Beautiful Mikayla with those lovely great big fluffy ears lost her

long battle with chlamydia. After many weeks of antibiotics she

became very unwell. She was euthanised for humane reasons.

Post mortem results showed both ovaries were full of pus which

would have been making her feel really sick. Her bladder was

thickened and had blood filled polyps inside. Sadly Dr Don said

nothing would work because too much damage had been done.

Mikayla’s son Breeze was successfully treated for chlamydia

and released last autumn.

Koala Rescues July—September 2017

Callouts to koalas who were not rescued are not included in this table.

Joeys are listed in bold type to explain their long term care.

Facebook—best place to see Port Stephens Koalas in care

Port Stephens Koalas carers post regular updates and heart-warming videos

about the koalas in their care. You can see Morton the joey learning to climb

trees in Julie’s backyard, and find out how particular koalas are doing that

you’ve read about here. We post about important events too eg about the

Mambo Wetlands protest against development, and our sausage sizzle or other

events that we’ll be attending.

You don’t need a Facebook page of your own. Click here to have a look.

Pictured right is a young female koala rescued from the construction site near

McDonalds in Salamander Bay. Another female with a joey was rescued too.

Koalas get so confused when their food trees disappear. We’ve relocated them

to a safer place and hope they don’t try to come back.

NAME PROBLEM LOCATION DAYS IN CARE FATE

Tolley Disease Salamander Bay 272 In Care

Limeburners Jo Lo Disease Limeburners Creek 212 Died after 24 hours in care

Eddie Mabo Disease Salamander Bay 58 Released

Mikayla Disease Anna Bay 20 Euthanased

Medowie Mr Picketts Disease Medowie 4 Euthanased

Dougal Disease Dungog 2 Died after 24 hours in care

Clarence Town Pete Dog Clarence Town 7 Released

Sophia 2 Dog Tanilba Bay 0 Found Dead

Unknown Fire Ferodale 2 Died after 24 hours in care

Morton (joey) Mvehicle Salamander Bay 123 In Care

Seaham Jace Mvehicle Seaham 67 In Care

Ned Mvehicle Anna Bay 0 Found Dead

KK1 Mvehicle Anna Bay 0 Found Dead

Unknown Mvehicle Martins Creek 0 Found Dead

Unknown Mvehicle Tea Gardens 0 Found Dead

Unknown Mvehicle Clarence Town 0 Found Dead

Dora Creek Boy Train Eraring 7 Died after 24 hours in care

Meryl Unsuitable Environment Salamander Bay 22 In Care

Mr Fitzsimmons Unsuitable Environment Salamander Bay 6 Released

Picasso Unsuitable Environment Salamander Bay 2 Released

Joey of Jeda Unsuitable Environment Salamander Bay 0 Relocated

Jeda Unsuitable Environment Salamander Bay 0 Relocated

Wuginni Unsuitable Environment Salamander Bay 0 Relocated

Moakley Unsuitable Environment Salamander Bay 0 Relocated

Benny Unsuitable Environment Taylors Beach 0 Relocated

KOALA IN DANGER — RESCUE INFORMATION

PO Box 60

Anna Bay NSW 2316

Australia

ABN 27 614 265 833

NPWS Licence MWL000100291

portstephenskoalas@gmail.com

www.portstephenskoalas.com.au

Rescue line 0418628483

PORT STEPHENS KOALAS

See our koalas in care on Facebook!

www.facebook.com/portstephenskoalas

VISION STATEMENT - Port Stephens Koalas aims to

provide the world best practice standards of care to sick,

injured and orphaned koalas to give them the best

opportunity to be returned to the wild, while supporting

research and collaboration to preserve their habitat to

ensure that future generations may continue to enjoy

seeing wildlife in their natural setting.

We would like to thank Oakvale Farm and Fauna World for sponsoring the costs of

printing this newsletter.

Koalas in care who are on strong antibiotic treatment, or develop diarrohea, often

need to have their gut bacteria restored by being fed with some healthy poo! Don’t

worry, we mix a little honey and water with it. Actually, they don’t mind it, if they

need it. Funny koalas! Oakvale have been very helpful over the years by supplying us

with healthy koala pellets.

Did you know that at Oakvale you can pat a koala? There are kangaroos and many

other animals. It’s a great place to take the family and overseas visitors.

Oakvale Drive, Salt Ash, NSW. (02) 4982 6222 www.oakvalefarm.com.au

Newsletter sponsorship

Sick Koalas come to the ground or stay low in trees. They may have brown dirty bottoms or crusty weepy eyes.

Cars are the biggest killer of koalas. Be aware at dusk and dawn, a popular time for their movements. It's not a crime

to hit a koala, but please report it by calling our rescue number. If it is safe to do so, move the koala to the side of the road, there may be a live joey inside the mother's pouch. Joeys have been saved by this action.

Attacks from dogs are too common. Just one small bite can become infected and kill a koala. Keep your dog on a

lead in parks and restrained away from gum trees at night.

Rescue number: 0418 628 483. Store it in your phone. Call us if you are in any doubt of a koala's well

being. We are available 24/7.

Suitable environment may be questionable. On or near busy roads. No apparent gum trees in the vicinity. Vulner-

able to other hazards such as dogs and swimming pools.

Ideally, restraining a koala should be done without handling, avoiding injury to yourself. You may end up with scars if

you try to handle koalas. A plastic laundry basket or a large towel or blanket can be used to place over the koala to

keep it calm, and if possible put it in a quiet place away from pets (dogs especially) and noisy children or machinery.