Gold Coast Bulletin Women of the Year by Harvey Norman nominees

Sarah Eccleston is doing her part in saving Australia’s most beloved native animal. Meet your latest Gold Coast Bulletin Women of the Year nominee.

Sarah Eccleston is at the forefront of Koala research and conservation.

The koala specialist at Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary is responsible for breeding more than 600 koalas, helping to save the endangered species from extinction.

Women of the Year Nominee, Sarah Eccleston, has been at the forefront of Koala research and conservation at Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary, for almost 25 years. Sarah with one of the koalas at the Sanctuary. Picture Glenn Hampson

Ms Eccleston was nominated by her peers in the Environmental Warriors category for Gold Coast Bulletin Women of the Year by Harvey Norman due to her “tireless conservation work” over the past 25 years.

“I’m lucky to have had a career that allows me to have a platform to share my messaging,” Ms Eccleston said.

“It’s the best job in the world, I absolutely adore what I do and I’m so honoured to be able to help save amazing wildlife.”

Ms Eccleston helped create the first joey in captivity with the world’s first artificial insemination in the koala on the Gold Coast.

“I was very proud to be part of that,” she said.

“Those koalas go into our ambassador programs and zoos across Australia. We also have ambassador zoos overseas helping create koalas abroad.”

Sarah with one of the koalas at the Sanctuary. Picture Glenn Hampson

Ms Eccleston said we all have our part to play in protecting the marsupials after they were declared endangered in February last year.

“That was a big call for koalas but it also means they have more protection and we have that little bit more help to keep them going, which we especially need here on the Gold Coast.

“They’ve got it really tough here – it’s hard being an urban koala living among the urban sprawl.

“That’s part of the reason I wrote my children’s book to try and help keep kids aware of them being in their own backyards.”

Ms Eccleston’s book Have You Seen a Tree for Me came out in September 2020 during Save the Koala month.

Sarah with one of the koalas at the Sanctuary. Picture Glenn Hampson

The conservationist said it was an important goal to spread her message to children because they were the ones who were going to save the koalas.

“It’s the children that will keep these messages alive as they grow and into the future,” she said.

Nominations close on August 1 followed by a glittering awards night dinner to announce the winners on September 16 at Star Gold Coast.

For more information or to nominate visit www.womenoftheyear.com.au

Helping Gold Coast kids doing it tough

Renee Brescianini is shaping the future for children in our own backyard as the founder of the Enriching Lives Foundation.

The nominee for the Gold Coast Bulletin Women of the Year by Harvey Norman and mother of two started the Gold Coast-based charity 18 months ago with a goal to help underprivileged students with the means to stay in school.

Women of the Year nominee Renee Brescianini. Picture: Glenn Hampson

The program helps with uniforms, books, food and other everyday schooling essentials for kids who have either lost a parent, are facing financial distress or have found themselves out of home.

“The foundation was created to give something back to the local community where we’ve seen our kids thrive,” Mrs Brescianini said.

“So we started it for those who can’t afford all the things everyone now needs to get an education. People used to go to school with an exercise book and a lead pencil – now kids have to have the latest laptop and phone.

“Everything that goes with the way we now educate and a lot of these kids can’t afford to put clothes on their back.”

In the charity’s first year they’ve managed to serve 34 kids across four Gold Coast schools with an aim to sponsor 100 kids heading into its second year.

From there, Mrs Brescianini said her mission is to take the charity public.

“We’d then like to see every Gold Coast business get their staff together and sponsor one kid – that would solve so many problems,” she said.

Women of the Year nominee Renee Brescianini. Picture: Glenn Hampson

“We’ve found if a classroom has 20 to 30 kids there’s at least five that can’t afford to be there.”

The foundation gives the money directly to the schools who decides which students need the program and which expenses each child needs.

“The schools know the kids who aren’t turning up and attendance is a big measure for us,” Mrs Brescianini said.

“We had a girl in year 11 who was not attending school every Wednesday. The only reason she didn’t go was because that particular school still made them wear a formal uniform on that day and she couldn’t afford one so stayed home.”

Mrs Brescianini said technology was a primary need for most students in the program.

“One student said to one of our volunteers how alienating it is when you can’t afford your own laptop,” she said.

“She’s 15 and while everyone is out at lunch she’s sitting in the library borrowing the school laptop – it’s not even about the laptop it’s about everybody at school knowing she doesn’t have the means to have one – it’s the judgment and the embarrassment when you’re at that age group.”

Women of the Year nominee Renee Brescianini. Picture: Glenn Hampson

Anyone can contribute any amount they can, Mrs Brescianini said, but for $10 a week people can sponsor a child to fund their tech needs, food, uniforms or extra-curricular means.

“We’ve had great feedback with kids that have never been on school camp that now have the chance,” she said.

“Many people may think that’s an added extra – but the alienation that comes from not going is extreme for these kids. We really are changing lives.”