It was three years in the making and often heart breaking, but for Australian filmmaker Susan Kelly, putting Port Macquarie’s koalas in the spotlight was a memorable journey that will continue to dominate her career for some time.
Susan has spent at least four months in each of the past three years filming the furry native animals at Port’s Koala Hospital for a National Geographic Television series, which is set to go global.
Titled Koala Hospital, Susan has captured an unusual wide-angle look at the surprising life of urban koalas, set at the Hospital.
The independent filmmaker and accredited video journalist with an environmental focus, has been capturing unprecedented footage of koala communication, dramatic rescues, heartfelt emotion and amusing koala antics.
Susan has been dividing her time between filming in Australia and post production work in America in Washington.
She returned to Port Macquarie on Monday to continue filming and will remain here for the film’s international premiere at Players Theatre on Thursday, June 2.
For almost 40 years, the Koala Hospital and its community of volunteers have been caring for sick and injured wild koalas, giving them a second chance at life.
At the heart of Susan’s documentary was patient, koala Jimmy.
His tiny injured body is taken to the hospital’s emergency room after he’s knocked unconscious by a car.
His mother was killed in the accident and Jimmy becomes an orphan.
All caught on film, viewers get to marvel at his new life at the Koala Hospital, being raised by loving human carers, on a unique journey back to the wild.
Three other wounded koalas and Hospital patients, Farida, Kaylee and Twinkles, also feature in the documentary.
During the film, you also witness devastating fires where the Hospital team has had to become expert at search and rescue missions across the country, to save koalas from their burning forest homes.
So too, the film follows koala cultures from Queensland to Victoria and “wherever their habitats are”.
For Susan, it was a remarkable experience and will not stop now.
She said she will be working on more series’ episodes about koalas with National Geographic Television.
“I’ll be filming the koalas for quite some time yet,” she said. “Probably for a lifetime.”
Susan has another purpose in returning to Australia too.
Her concerns for the declining populations of our koalas has seen her participate in an inquiry in Canberra to outline the true status of koalas.
“Various people have been called upon to give evidence,” she said.
“The koala population has seen a 95 per cent decline over time, which is not good.
“Even in my three years of filming I have seen a massive decline, whether it’s from bushfire, land clearing or human development.
“Port Macquarie is no exception. You only have to look at the Oxley Highway area to see what massive changes there are and this has all had a significant impact on koala populations.”
Susan said as Australians, we are very good at acknowledging environmental wrong doings overseas, such as whaling, but we need to look in our own backyard and take care of our native animals and natural heritage.
To be a part of history and to go along to the film’s launch, contact the Koala Hospital on 6584 1522 or visit the website www.koalahospital.org.au.
The event begins at 6.30pm on June 2 at Players Theatre.
To find out more about the documentary, go to the website www.koalahospital.com
Can you help?
The Koala Hospital needs people to help with Walk and Talk Tours.
No experience is necessary and full training will be given. Tours are scheduled at 3pm.
If you are interested, contact the Hospital.Donations are always welcome.
