KOALA PRESERVATION SOCIETY of New South Wales

History of The Koala Hospital

Jean and Max Starr

One of the most unique institutions in the world saw its beginnings in 1973, in the small town of Port Macquarie in rural Australia. While the plight of the koala had not been a happy one, even back then, an extremely far sighted couple, Jean and Max Starr, local shop keepers, organized what was to eventually become the Koala Preservation Society of New South Wales

Perhaps the most progressive group devoted to saving Australia's most beautiful ambassador to the world. The original focus of the organization, which remains central to its mission today, was the preservation of the habitat so critical to the future of the koala, education, and coordination of activities with smaller groups in other parts of the country. Jean and Max Starr originally had no idea of whether the town, which had only a population of around 10,000 at that point, would support such an effort.

Most townspeople either had no idea that koalas were in the area, or took their existence for granted. With the enormous assistance of the owner of the local newspaper, Mr. Charles Uptin, an initial public meeting was called to discuss the feasibility of a group dedicated to helping the koala. Coincidentally, on the day of the meeting, Max Starr happened to come across Rod Pierce, one of the first National Parks and Wildlife Service Rangers ever in the area. Rod had come to Port Macquarie to study and gather specimens of leeches. The Starrs, at least for the time being, put an end to that ambition, as Rod was "invited" to attend the koala meeting. Again with Charles Uptin's assistance, a second meeting was called, this one attended by the manager of the local bank, and others who knew the steps leading to the formal incorporation of the Society.

At first, not surprisingly, a major problem stemmed from not knowing exactly which leaves comprised the koala's diet. A list had been obtained, however it turned out to be of species eaten in Victoria - quite useless information for a group seeking to establish an effort in New South Wales! One of the very first efforts therefore was to establish a koala observation team which would take detailed notes on exactly which trees the koalas were eating from. These leaves were then identified by a forestry official, leading to the formation of the list used today.

Tree planting was the first major effort of the Society. When the first shipment of 100 Eucalyptus trees arrived, the early members of the society wondered how they would ever plant one hundred trees.

Bonnys Fire

In practically no time at all, over 12,000 trees had been planted. No sooner had they been planted than they became delicious food for local Wallabies; obviously more had to be known about koalas, their trees, and the feeding activities of other species in the region.

Large areas were looked for as places suitable for the planting of new trees. What was later the local water supply catchment appeared to be a good candidate, however the town Council was just negotiating for access. In 1974, permission was obtained, however acres of undergrowth had to be burned off before serious tree planting could begin. Later on, adjacent land was purchased by Port Macquarie, leading to the formation of a much larger catchment area.

The local Rotary Club, the Lions, the Van Club and other organizations assisted the then small Society. Mr. Upton's Port Macquarie News ran a column approximately every two weeks called, "Koala Corner," informing local residents of the latest adventures -- and misadventures of the Society. Without tremendous local support, there is no doubt that the Starr's efforts would not have prevailed. In the first year, three koalas were cared for. The first had conjunctivitis. For five weeks, the members tried to catch the first patient who by then had been called "Pop Eye." To this day, all patients of the Society are given names by those who first encounter them. Usually the name is somehow related to the circumstance or locale from which the koala came.

Pop Eye

By the time the Society finally caught up with its first patient, it was totally blind, the disease having spread to both eyes. The Society did what it thought was the correct thing at the time, and built an enclosure for it. The enclosure was small by today's practices, but at the time little was known of the relationship of stress to the cause of illness. Researchers from the town of Armidale came down to visit Pop Eye. Drs. Alan Jackson and Frank Cockram took cultures from the animal and concluded that some sort of bacteria was involved. At that time, so little was actually known about any of the diseases effecting koalas.

Cathie Giddy

Pop Eye, the first koala patient, soon died, striking a discouraging, but not fatal blow to the morale of the early members. The second patient, Cubby, was a beautiful young female koala, found in the gutter covered with ticks, and with a partial paralysis. She was reared by the Society. Being the first young koala reared by the group, she did not have a large tree to climb in while growing up. There was much anxiety that she wouldn't know what do to, when placed at the bottom of a large tree, as the day of her planned release came closer.

The fears were unfounded, as she scurried right up a huge Eucalypt. Her calls could be heard at night for some time to come. She produced magnificent joeys every year for several years, and became a source of great pride and encouragement.

While Cubby was being reared, another patient, a young male joey, "Tiny Tim," came into the hands of the Society. Tiny Tim wasn't strong enough to hold on to his mother, as is customary for about six months after a joey has permanently emerged from the pouch. Cubby, never a strong animal remained near to the Starr's home and within earshot the Society members voices he had grown accustomed to. He lived until about the age of seven.

At this point, record keeping was started, as the diversity of koalas and their varied plights became apparent. About two dozen animals were treated in 1974, when the record- keeping began in earnest. Today, over thousands of treatment records exist. In 1975 it became apparent that the Society needed some sort of place where the koalas could rehabilitate. The Port Macquarie Apex Club, a service club for people under forty, built the first little Koala Hospital on a block of cement which still exists today. Two recovery yards were provided.

Many animals were still cared for at home. Leaf collecting became more difficult as the number of koalas being treated grew. Max Starr collected leaves for 14 years, going out each day, "rain or shine." On top of all of this, the Starrs operated two shops in town. As the existence of the Society became more known, it had to be careful not to become an object of political leverage by private interests. Groups or individuals for example, who wished not to have a road built or other easements granted might attempt to cite the effect on the koalas, right or wrong, as part of the efforts to protect their own objectives.

After the first hospital was built, a second hospital was built in 1986, with the first small building taken down. The original Flynn family was still living in Roto House, a beautiful original Australian home was used for a short period by National Parks as its local Headquarters. The trees around Roto House and the Hospital even to this day, are home for many koalas and possums. In these early days, the Koala Society ran several raffles as a means of obtaining financial support. The Port Macquarie News also ran a local appeal for funds, which provided initial funding.

John Williamson

The third stage of development came with the construction of the John Williamson Wing only a few years ago. One day, John a nationally known Australian Country Music Singer simply happened to be in Port Macquarie and decided to visit the Roto House and Koala Hospital. While visiting, an emergency rescue call came in requiring that the famous visitor suddenly be abandoned. The entire experience was so impressive for John that it inspired him to write a song, "Good Bye Blinky Bill," predicting the loss of the Koala. The song became enormously popular throughout Australia. John very generously donated the proceeds from the song, often placed in a hat passed at performances, long an important Australian tradition at such affairs, to the Society. Once the song was recorded, proceeds from that effort were generously donated as well.

Although the koala is now a protected species, meaning that it may no longer be hunted or kept as a "pet" in captivity, the Koala Preservation Society of New South Wales is entirely dependent upon its dedicated roster of volunteers, local merchants, and tourists who drop coins in a donation box for support. Sadly, the Society has no endowment and essentially lives "hand to mouth." Despite the fiscal uncertainty over its future, the Koala Hospital which operates as one of several Society functions, continues to provide "state of the art" care for its Koala patients.

Help support the Koala Hospital Of New South Wales, in Port Macquarie...

Donate by Adopting a Wild Koala

The cost of operating the hospital is $140,000 per year. With the exception of our Supervisor, and Leaf Collectors the Hospital is staffed by volunteers. Our overheads consist of large Veterinary bills and medical supplies, as well as keeping our leaf truck on the road, and general running costs such as electricity, telephone, equipment, and a myriad of other expenses.