Couple donates land to help koalas

THE generosity of one local couple will help sick and injured koalas right across the Northern Rivers.

Koala takeaway: Planting koala feed trees on land donated by Tracey and Wal Filicietti on their McKees Hill property are Humphrey Herrington (left), owner of Eastern Forest Nursery, which donated the trees, and Friends of the Koala co-ordinator of volunteer leaf collection Rick Stewart. . Picture: Jacklyn Wagner

THE generosity of one local couple will help sick and injured koalas right across the Northern Rivers.

Tracey and Wal Filicietti, of McKees Hill, have offered two hectares on their property to Friends of the Koala to set up a new koala food tree plantation.

And they have even said they will maintain the plantation, reducing the stress on Friends of the Koala volunteers.

More than 2500 seedlings were planted on their land this week.

The seedlings – forest red gum, tallowwood and swamp mahogany – were raised and supplied by the owner of Eastern Forest Nursery at South Gundurimba, Humphrey Herrington.

Friends of the Koala leaf collecting co-ordinator, Rick Stewart, said it was an ‘ongoing challenge’ to find a dependable source of food for the koalas in their care.

“We are an entirely voluntary organisation,” he said.

“It is partnerships and donations like these that enable us to meet the specific nutritional requirements of all the koalas that come into our care each year.

“Leaf collecting for koalas is always a challenge but now, thanks to these good people, we’ll have a better chance to ensure an ongoing and reliable food source for all the koalas that come into our care.”

Sydney company All Stake Supply also came on board with the project, donating tree guards. These will protect the seedlings from frost damage that can occur at this time of year.

Although the new plantation will eventually become a valuable food source for the region’s sick and injured koalas, the trees are currently too small to harvest.

So in the meantime, Mr Stewart is on the hunt for people in the Lismore area who have mature red gum, tallowwood and swamp mahogany trees that can be harvested right now. To help out, call Mr Stewart on 0405 775 884.

For more information about Friends of the Koala, visit their website: www.friendsofthekoala.org

Originally published as Couple donates land to help koalas