January 15, 2003 Dawning for Dawn

It seems Dawn isn’t the only Dawn who wants to save the bilby. Australian swimming legend Dawn Fraser has thrown her support behind the Save the Bilby Fund.

“I’m proud to be part of such a vital effort. My little part in the Save the Bilby Fund is to encourage Australians to buy a chocolate bilby rather than a chocolate Easter egg in support of the Save the Bilby Fund this Easter,” says Dawn. “There will be no bunnies in my house this year, only Easter bilbies.”

March 18, 2003 Williamson Website Launch

Australian music legend, John Williamson launched easterbilby.com.au to the media along with a bit of help from Ranger Frank Manthey and chocolate manufacturer Darrell Lea.

“Australia is blessed with a unique animal species but if we don’t protect our habitat these wonderful creatures will disappear. One very endearing desert-dweller now facing extinction is the bilby. I am delighted to lend my support to saving the bilby as it is these very causes I try to nurture through my songs” says Williamson. To mark the event, Williamson unveiled a new song dedicated to the bilby called "The Easter Bilby".

Listen to John's Easter Bilby Song ... click the link below

The Bilby Statue - Renowned sculptor joins bilby appeal - 14 Aug 2000

Chris McKenzie, renowned sculptor from the Gold Coast, carved this 2 tonne Bilby and donated it to the Save the Bilby Fund. Sculptor Chris McKenzie has chipped in with support for the `Save the Bilby' appeal at this year's Royal Queensland Show. Chris has donated materials and his time to sculpt a three-metre bilby from a log of Queensland hardwood outside the Government Pavilion.

The finished carving will be donated to the Save the Bilby appeal and Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service to raise funds to help build a 25 square kilometre predator-proof fence within Currawinya National Park in south-west Queensland. The fence will protect captive-bred bilbies from feral cats and foxes. The Queensland bilby population is estimated to be as low as 600.

"If my work can help raise awareness of the plight of the bilby and the serious damage caused by feral animals, then I feel I've contributed a little to the conservation of this cute Queenslander," Chris said.

Chris began carving last Wednesday using a chainsaw then progressed to handtools, mainly chisels. He will complete the bilby sculpture by Saturday's Ekka close.

Chris uses hardwoods almost exclusively for his work. "The spotted gum I'm using is one of Queensland's hardest timbers. The handtools I'm using are finding the going a bit tough but I'll finish on time," he said. Chris McKenzie will carve every day from 10am to 8pm outside the Government Pavilion. Examples of his work include ships' mastheads, gallery installations, park monuments, and commissioned works for business.
He is a regular exhibitor at the Timber and Working with Wood shows.

Released by: Environmental Protection Agency

Return To Eden - ABC Broadcast: 27/6/2002

Project Eden is the creation of Australia’s largest animal sanctuary. With an electric fence to isolate Peron Peninsula in WA from the rest of the continent, it is an experiment to eradicate feral intruders and return some of the world’s rarest animals to the wild. Return To Eden, screening on ABC TV Thursday June 27 at 10.00pm, follows the efforts of government and community to create a haven for native animals.

Within the last 200 years, Peron, like much of Australia, has undergone a transformation with the arrival of European settlers. Land clearance, farming and the introduction of a host of feral animals – foxes, cats, goats and rabbits – all resulted in catastrophic change. Some native species were lost forever while others like the marsupial bilby, hung on in isolated pockets.

On the Peron Peninsula, help is at hand. The bilby is being assisted by government and volunteers to return to its former territory. An electric fence now seals the peninsula off from the rest of the continent. Inside, Project Eden utilises the latest in biological and technological eradication techniques to remove feral animals from within.

Meanwhile in ‘safe houses’, young native animals are being reared. June Butcher, retired nurse, runs a captive bilby colony on the outskirts of Perth. With the help of cameras that see in the dark of the bilby burrow, she witnesses a world first in the remarkable life cycle of this nocturnal marsupial destined for release into the wild.

However, the battle of the feral animals begins to outwit the Project Eden team. With the fox almost eliminated, the cat now dominates the peninsula. A prolific breeder, its numbers soar to unprecedented levels. This unforeseen problem challenges the team’s ingenuity to the limit.

As the day of the bilby release draws closer, will the peninsula provide the promised haven for the bilbies to safely Return to Eden?

Return to Eden is a unique story set in the hot and remote wilderness of Western Australia. A tale of human endeavour in the face of many obstacles determined to right the wrongs of past mistakes. It traces an historic chapter in cutting edge ecological science and environmental management by following the progress of Project Eden, a Western Australian Conservation and Land Management initiative.

Never before in Australia has there been such a large scale attempt to rid an area of feral animals and re-instate native species. The documentary tells the story of past and present human intervention. It poses fundamental questions about the way we manage our environment.

OTHER ARTICLES

The gentleman of the inland plains

Article by Peter McRae

Easter Bilby

Article by Andrew Merry

A friend to the Bilby fights for its future

Article by Mike Larder

Success for Bilby

Article by Phil Hammond

Business giant joins ‘save bilbies’ battle

Article by Leanne White

Move over Bugs, here come the bilbies

Article by Warren Murray

The game of survivor for a new Easter icon

Article by Greg Roberts (January 6 2003)

ABC TV documentary "Return to Eden"

Baked bean babies thrill Bilby Brothers - 07 Sep 2006

Renowned sculptor joins bilby appeal

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