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By Lisa Charnley
After a six-year break, Koala Fest Kurrajong returned in 2025, once
again shining a spotlight on the plight of one of Australia's most
iconic species. The festival, held at Memorial Park in Kurrajong, first
began in 2018 as a community-led initiative by the Hawkesbury
Environment Network (HEN) in partnership with Hawkesbury City Council,
Science for Wildlife, Greater Sydney Landcare, and other local groups.
Designed to be both educational and fun, Koala Fest celebrates koalas
and the local environment through live music, family-friendly
activities, stalls, workshops, and guest speakers. It is not only an
opportunity for the public to learn about conservation, but also for
local wildlife organisations to connect, collaborate, and strengthen
their shared mission.
"Koala Fest is all about raising community awareness," organisers said.
"But on another level, it provides an opportunity for different groups
directly involved in fighting for koalas to come together and network.
Hopefully, we can make it an annual event."
Among those lending their voice to the cause is Morgan Philpott, a
long-time member of the Hawkesbury WIRES Koala Rehabilitation Team. With
nearly a decade of experience rescuing and rehabilitating sick and
injured koalas, Morgan is passionate about educating the community on
how they can help.
"We are a small team of highly experienced, highly dedicated WIRES
members from across three branches who work together. At this
time of year, koalas are entering their mating season, which means they
are more mobile — often crossing roads or moving through backyards.
This can lead to more encounters with koalas that may be sick or in need
of help." - Morgan Philpott
One of the greatest threats to koalas in the Hawkesbury is chlamydia, a
disease that affects many local populations. According to Morgan, it is
vital that residents know the signs.
- Ocular chlamydia can present as eye discharge, swelling, or inflamed
eyes with abnormal skin growth in the conjunctiva. - Urogenital chlamydia can appear as a large, rusty-coloured wet stain on a koala’s rump.
"Any koala showing these symptoms needs immediate medical treatment,"
Morgan stressed. "If you see one, please call WIRES on 1300 094 737 and
a trained carer will attend."
Morgan also urged residents in koala country to take simple steps:
contain dogs at night and drive carefully between dusk and dawn. If
you're lucky enough to see one of our koala residents out and about,
please take the time to report both healthy and unwell koala sightings.
Sightings can be logged directly with WIRES, Science for Wildlife, or
through the I Spy Koala app.
With its mix of entertainment, education, and environmental advocacy,
Koala Fest continues to strengthen the bond between community and
conservation. After its successful return in 2025, many hope it will
once again become a regular fixture in the Hawkesbury calendar —
ensuring that koalas remain not only an Australian icon, but a thriving
part of the local landscape for generations to come.
