What has become of the Koala Capital?
What has become of the Koala Capital when an injured animal is left to die? Close to midnight, Sunday. We stopped by the roadside just short of the Gunnedah roundabout, to check on a koala that had been run down and in terrible distress.
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A call to a local, afterhours vet, left us with little confidence. Try not to handle it too much, keep the animal covered in a box, it will probably be dead by the morning. We open at 8am.
Sadly the koala passed during the night, but more disappointing was the vet’s response the next day. They didn’t want it. Not interested in its size, health, weight or even sex. We were instructed to bury it, or dump it at the tip.
No, we refused to do that. After contacting WIRES, we checked for a pouch, sent photos for their files and then gave him a decent burial.
Perhaps the driver of the vehicle didn’t know they had hit an animal. Perhaps they did, and knew what kind of response they would get: not able to have the animal put to sleep humanely, or even examined and categorised for future reference.
Take down your billboards and banners Gunnedah, strike the iconic emblem off your signs and placards, the koala capital is closed.
Matt Johnstone,
Salamander Bay
Donate to save lives
On behalf of local stroke survivors and the Stroke Foundation, I would like to thank members of the community who got motivated and moving by taking part in Stride4stroke throughout November.
Not only did almost 650 participants lower their own stroke risk by taking on their own physical challenge, they raised vital funds for StrokeLine (1800 787 653), which is Australia’s only dedicated national helpline for stroke survivors and their families.
I sincerely thank those who took part and the families, friends, colleagues and community members who backed their efforts.
I am excited to announce that with your support, we collectively clocked up more than 47,000 kilometres and raised almost $140,000 for StrokeLine.
These donations will enable Stroke Foundation to continue to provide this vital telephone support service when it is needed most.
Throughout November, I was thrilled to hear about the efforts of our ‘Striders’ right across the country.
They walked, ran, swam and even lifted weights to raise awareness of stroke.
Sadly, there will be 56,000 strokes in Australia this year. That is one every nine minutes.
Stroke attacks the brain – the human control centre, changing lives in an instant.
The impact of a stroke is felt well beyond the individual, with families lives also turned upside down by this devastating disease.
Most of this year’s Striders know this story only too well after either suffering a stroke themselves or witnessing the impact of stroke on someone they care about.
But stroke’s impact doesn’t need to be this great. Around 80 percent of strokes are preventable.
We must turn the situation around for the better. We must work together to prevent, treat and beat stroke.
Looking after our own health is the first step. Physical inactivity is now the second highest risk factor for stroke behind high blood pressure, so it’s time to follow the lead of our Striders and get moving.
So this new year, make a commitment to your health – check fit, check lean and get checked (blood pressure), it could save your life. While Stride4stroke is over for another year, you can still support the Stroke Foundation. A small donation will help us continue to make great strides in the fight against stroke.
Visit www.stride4stroke.org.au
Sharon McGowan
Stroke Foundation CEO
