Film a call to help koalas

A FEATURE-length documentary on the endangerment of one of Australia’s most iconic animals is set to come to town next week.

Following its world premiere at the Castlemaine Documentary Festival over the weekend, Showbiz Cinemas will host a screening of The Koalas this Thursday.

Ballarat wildlife rescuer, carer, and advocate Jessica Robertson features in the film and will be one of several guest speakers taking part in a Q&A session following the showing.

She said her role in the film highlighted the recent loss of koala life and habitat at a 16-hectare bluegum plantation due to tree harvesting.

“I’ve been advocating for Ballarat koalas for about five years and was one of many people who fought to save the Gordon plantation koalas for about three years,” she said.

“Unfortunately, due to the decisions made for them, 11 koalas, every single one of them died. A whole population in that area was wiped out.

“[The filmmakers] were as mortified as we were about what was happening in Gordon and they captured that in the film.”

Directed by Gregory Miller and produced by Georgia Wallace-Crabbe, the film showcases the environmental impacts on the titular marsupial across Victoria and New South Wales.

Other guest speakers in the local screening will include Australian Koala Foundation Dr Dave Mitchell, Moorabool Landcare Network’s Jackson Cass, and former Animal Justice Party Member for Western Victoria, Andy Meddick.

Ms Robertson encouraged everyone to attend.

“It’s urgent action we need to save koalas from extinction way before the predicted 2050 date. That could happen much sooner without urgent intervention,” she said.

“Our story’s important because it speaks to the poor legislation and the poor protection not just of koala habitats but habitation in general. Plantations are habitat whether they were planted for harvesting or not.

The screening will take place at 6.30pm and tickets can be bought at bit.ly/3VG9uUl.