Koala Diaries Blog

It's been a while since my last blog post.  Mindful that much of what I've written previously has been of a faintly depressing tone, I was waiting for something overwhelmingly positive to write about, lest I become a whinger ... I am still waiting. More

This week I had the privilege of attending the Senate Inquiry hearing in Brisbane, held for the purpose of investigating the status, health and sustainability of Australia’s koala population.  I was one of 21 witnesses called to give evidence, and I therefore had the opportunity to explain the premise of Koala Diaries, and my thoughts on a number of the contentious issues relating to the management of koalas and their bushland habitat.   More

During the last week two milestones have quietly slipped by. More

It was the meeting that had to happen – not if, but when.  I’m talking about Oprah Winfrey meeting a koala during her visit to Australia.  And happen it did – on day one of Oprah’s antipodean adventure.  The young koala, Elvis, was part of the welcome line on Hamilton Island.  I could not help but note the irony that Queensland Premier, Anna Bligh, was there too.  She, who’s state Labor party, and their Beattie/Bligh governments, has arguably done more to hasten the decline of the koala than any government.  A sad irony ...  More

I was interested to stumble across a letter written to the editor of the New York Times in 1992.  It was an attempt to water down an earlier report in that very reputable publication that the koala was in dire trouble and on the fast track to extinction.  The letter was sent by a Mr Christopher Sweeney, Counsellor, Public Affairs at the Australian Embassy in Washington at that time. More

Member, Kathryn Kermode, has made a valuable contribution to Koala Diaries. She has watched and documented a colony of koalas in her neighbourhood of Kyogle for some time now. Kathryn keeps a record on her own website, and now does so via Koala Diaries as well. This brings insight to the health of koalas on a regional basis, rather than along state or electoral boundaries.  More

In a week when the nation’s media was focussed on political events in Canberra, another news story went almost unnoticed. More

I am not a koala carer. Our website, Koaladiaries.com.au is born of the realisation that I am in the majority, knowing very little about the koala. Already it has taught me so much about this truly wonderful animal. I have learned from people around the country submitting sightings with details such as "sitting in a Jacaranda", "swimming from Rabbit Island to Newry Island" and more.  More

You might not have heard much about Koala Diaries in the press lately, but we have been busy with our heads down. But before I tell you what’s new and of interest, I have to say thank you. More

Does the Powerlines Action Group Eumundi (PAGE) really have a case against Powerlink, the government corporation responsible for the construction and maintenance of high voltage transmission lines? There is no question the quality of power supply to the northern end of the Sunshine Coast and hinterland is sub-standard and on the plus side, new high voltage transmission lines will smooth the spikes. On the negative, it will also deliver the infrastructure necessary for the government's desired doubling of population in the area. But wait, there's more... More