‘The science is there but the will of government and big business is not‘
Margie Brace, Kyogle
On Thursday I went to see The Koalas movie in Kyogle where I live. I knew it was about the endangered situation of our koala populations but I had no idea of the shock I would feel when I saw the true state of our Australian iconic animal status. I heard a panel including scientists who had worked specifically to save koalas for 40 years despairing. They don’t know what more they can do. The science is there but the will of government and big business is not. It is so sad for us all.
This morning, I walked down the street here and I saw a school display in a shop window. There was a metre high sculpture of a koala. It was beautifully painted and I’m sure the children who painted it believed that as a nation we care a lot about them.
I’ve seen a lot of these sculptures in Port Macquarie too and was relieved to read before the state election that a National Park was to be established in that area to protect them. It is an area that not too long ago was subjected to terrible bushfires and all of our native animals there suffered enormously. I saw a large amount of housing development in areas of bushland and the clear felling of koala trees. I was concerned.
The Labor State government was elected and I thought all would be well.
How naive was I? I now see daily reports of scientists, community members and animal carers blockading the very forest that the government said they would protect. It is being logged by a corporation that I as a taxpayer subsidise because it doesn’t even run at a profit. That makes no sense at all and brings tears to my eyes. What do people have to do to stop this senseless destruction from occurring? We can make political change but it will all be too late for these areas and for those little children who believed that we cared for these creatures and our forests.
If you haven’t seen this movie I recommend that you do. It certainly opened my eyes and shocked me. All of the people I have talked to who saw it as well have said the same thing.
I occasionally hear a koala in the bush above our house. Next time I do instead of feeling excited and privileged, I will feel very sad.
Margie Brace, Kyogle
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