Branching out for koalas

MORE than 300 people attended a comedy fundraising event to help build koala habitat in Bangalow last weekend.

“It was the biggest and most successful fundraiser ever,” Bangalow Koalas president Linda Sparrow said.

“It was a true community event bringing everyone together for a night of laughter and fun and all for a good cause.”

Comedians Jimeoin and Mandy Nolan joined TV personality Harley Breen, who has appeared on TV shows such as Fisk, and Bangalow Koala’s mascot Keith the Koala at the Seriously Funny event at Bangalow A&I Hall.

“It was huge hit with the audience and was so great to hear so much laughter and see so many happy faces,” Ms Sparrow said.

“This is the third time we have held a comedy fundraiser since 2019 and Mandy and Jimeoin have supported us from the beginning, as have the Bangalow Lions, and this year I convinced them to ask Kamal Singh to do her famous curries and they were a hit with everyone.”

Ms Sparrow said money raised from the event will help the organisation achieve its goal of planting 500,000 trees by the end of 2025.

“Mandy’s live auction raised $8000 alone and we are waiting to hear back from the Lions the final tally with food and drink as well as from TicketLeap,” she said.

“We would like to thank our fabulous performers, with a special mention to the hilarious Mandy, who from the start worked closely with me to organise the fundraiser.

“We’d also like to thank our sponsors who donated items for the auction – Sun Ranch, Crystalbrook Byron, Hilary Herrmann, The Balcony, The Banya Bathhouse, Yulli’s, Andrea Cheers, Jolly Roger Kayaks, Wild Byron, Adam Zampa and Pat Rafter.”

Bangalow Koalas has planted thousands of trees on properties across seven different shires in Northern NSW since 2019.

Every tree planted becomes part of what is known as a ‘koala corridor’ that connects once-fragmented patches of habitat with newly planted stretches of foliage.