Launch of Koala Life

Last Friday evening, around 200 of our devoted advocates and koala supporters attended Cleland Wildlife Park for the official launch of our re-brand and name ‘Koala Life’.

Originally known as the International Koala Centre of Excellence, we proudly unveiled Koala Life, its new visual identity at our home in the Adelaide Hills - appropriately at Cleland Wildlife Park. Cleland is also home to the Kangaroo Island koalas affected from 2019/20 bushfires that Koala Life were an instrumental partner ensuring their translocation.

The launch was also an opportunity to recap our past 12 months where we have been steadily gaining traction and broadening our vision to develop collaborative scientific efforts and awareness to secure the survival of Australia’s most recognisable marsupial.

At the event, ABC 891’s David Bevan emceed the evening which included a smoking ceremony acknowledging the Kaurna people before the Minister for Environment, Hon. David Speirs reiterated his commitment for the support of our work and officially launched Koala Life.

Kids were treated to a special guided walk around Cleland Wildlife Park where they got to spot all kinds of South Australian wildlife, even a koala or two!

Janet Badgery, the granddaughter of Dorothy Wall shared an emotional story that reflected the short life and success of her grandmother who authored and illustrated the famous Blinky Bill stories.

Shortly afterwards, children were treated to the premiere of ‘Blinky Bill on the Loose’, a new South Australian live performance that will run throughout March as part of the Fringe Festival. Blinky Bill has been synonymous with educating younger generations about Australian wildlife, conservation and the environment so this performance is a welcome return to Blinky’s endeavors.

As a foundation, Koala Life relies on the generous support of its partners and raising funds for research, establishing a national network of knowledge and finding solutions for koala diseases.

Friday night’s proceedings included a silent auction of original, never released prints of Blinky Bill, koala merchandise by Jeremy Boot and a giant chocolate koala sculpted by the famous Australian artist Silvio Apponyi that was molded by Emmalines Country Kitchen.

Koala Life would like to acknowledge all the contributors to our launch which contributed to making the night a huge success. We will continue to advocate on habitat requirements and conservation needs and an understanding of how koalas live with people on a national scale.

We will be the voice of survival science.

Please help continue with the success of Koala Life and donate here.