Tweed hobby farmer, koala guardian gets special visit from ‘Penny’ the koala as she works to plant 6000 food trees

A hobby farmer has had a special visit from an adorable Aussie icon dubbed Penny after committing to creating a big koala food corridor through her property in the state’s far north.

Bilambil Pet Paradise’s new koala visitor affectionately named Penny.

A hobby farmer has had a special visit from an Aussie icon after committing to creating a big koala food corridor through her property at Bilambil in the state’s far north.

It’s expected many more of the endangered marsupials will soon move in.

Jasmin Dorrington, who self-funded her hobby farm Bilambil Pet Paradise in the Tweed Shire, takes in horses to train, retrain and rehome.

Her goal is to plant 6000 food trees to ensure the future of the koala in the area.

The conservationist said the property’s koala corridor will remain in place forever.

Ms Dorrington and Penny the koala.

Now, Ms Dorrington is still counting her blessings after a “little one ran right up to me and touched my leg” recently.

She said she was “stunned” and “thrilled” by the visit from the koala.

Penny and Jasmin Dorrington.

Ms Dorrington said the encounter reminded her of the famous movie line from Field of Dreams: “Build it and they will come.”

“They have,” she said.

Jasmin Dorrington in a 2020 archive photo, after she was kicked by one of her horses and fought to survive. It came after she was trapped in the snow while skiing in the Alps about two decades earlier. Picture: Scott Powick/Tweed Daily News

“I called the koala ‘Penny’ because it takes just a little to help save the threatened koala – and every Penny counts. That sounds pretty good to me.”

Ms Dorrington said she hoped her endeavour showed how ordinary Australians could make a difference in their own way to help save vulnerable koalas.

“We couldn’t be more honoured with the very special visitor today – so blessed, I still can’t believe it happened,” she wrote on Facebook.

Bilambil Pet Paradise receives its first koala visitor.

“She is such a beautiful, healthy koala and I thank all my supporters who assist me with establishing a koala habitat at Bilambil’s Pet Paradise.”

Key supporter, friend and animal lover Kent Bayley, a longtime broadcaster, said the trees at the property were growing quickly.

“So much so that the first koala has visited and what a tremendous and unexpected and glorious event,” he said.

“This wild female koala simply walked up to the homestead and right up to Jasmin and touched her without hesitation.

“How’s that for trust?”

He said he believed the koala somehow knew Ms Dorrington was a friend.

Penny on the move at the property.

Mr Bayley said he believed Ms Dorrington’s work would set an example to others looking to bolster koala habitats.

“Jasmin is a fighter and loves Australian wildlife and especially koalas and horses,” he said.

“She is doing what many others should do and I applaud her selfless efforts.

“One outstanding woman, and one precious koala.”