Full Description of activities in BMWKD Children's Event

The Children's event will have ...

• FACEPAINTING by KAZ
  Kaz, the people painter will be available from 10am to 12 noon
  to paint Australia's native wildlife - Kangaroos, Koalas or Wombats - as either CHEEK ART or FULL FACE ART



Photo by Kaz



• Craft by Kathie
  Kathie, the Children's Event Coordinator will have a number of Kangaroo craft activities for children that they can take home.
  There can be KANGAROO - POUCHS, APRONS, PUPPETS, MASKS, CUT OUTS and/or CARDBOARD FIGURES



Photos with firefox



• Stories by Kathie
  Kathie, the Children's Event Coordinator will have three Children's Kangaroo books to read aloud during the mornimg.
  These three books are Vinnie by Melinda Kerr, How Mother Kangaroo got her Pouch by Rebecca Beetson and ABC of Australian Animals by Bronwyn Bancroft



Photos with firefox



• Information by Kathie
  Kathie, the Children's Event Coordinator will have four poster with Kangaroo information to share during the mornimg.
  These four posters are About Kangaroos Ears, Social interactions of Kangaroos, The birth of a joey embyro and Kangaroos as Ecological Engineers



Photos from Mark & Tracy



• Videos by Kathie
  Kathie, the Children's Event Coordinator will have two videos to play during the mornimg.
  These two videos are Kangaroo Dance and Joey Care



Photos from Kangaroo Dance



• Puzzles by Kathie
  Kathie, the Children's Event Coordinator will have word/number puzzles for older children and jigsaw puzzles for young children during the mornimg.
  These word/number puzzles are based on the four posters - About Kangaroos Ears, Social interactions of Kangaroos, The birth of a joey embyro and Kangaroos as Ecological Engineers



Photos from Jo

The aims of this Saturday 18th October MORNING Children's Event, will be...

...a celebration of our beloved Kangaroos,
...a chance for children to find out how amazing kangaroo/macropods are
...a chance for children to discover the close interactions of kangaroo and their family groups,

Photo by Mark Selmes

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Full Description of activities in the Public Event

‘Buru, the kangaroo, has been protected for thousands of years
– we are mentally, physically and spiritually connected to this ancient animal through our living cultural lore.
We all must protect Buru, the kangaroo.‘
Uncle Dean Kelly, Yuin

Photo by Tracy

The first section of the public event, will be WELCOME TO COUNTRY - Kangaroos and First Nation People (FNP).

Since 2023, Graham Davis King has been an essential Aboriginal Voice on Caring for Country and Kangaroos in our BMWKD celebrations.
He has been sharing the close connections between First Nations People (FNP), their Ancestors and Kangaroos at our annual BMWKD events.
We are hoping he will be available to talk on Welcome to Country & Kangaroos and First Nation People
in the public event on Saturday morning 18/10/25.

QUOTE
It was such a priviledged experience to sit and listen to Uncle Graham tell the Dreamtime
about kangaroos and how we as humans came about from them.
He wove so many details about the intricate relationships between all animals and Country;
and the careful balance that directly effects the rains and drought sessions.
In his telling and song he explained kangaroo movements
and I better understand why humans and kangaroos have similar emotions
and attachment to their young and to their families. Thank you Uncle.
Kathie

Photo from internet

The second section of the public event, will be THE MAGNIFICENCE OF KANGAROOS - and challenges to their survival

Since BMWKD started in 2022, Greg Keightley has been an important keynote speaker at all the BMWKD Events; and this year is no dfferent.
In the 2025 BMWKD public event, Greg will be sharing his and Diane's story...
...about the beauty, complexity and majesty of these highly evolved sentient beings;
...about the special relationship that exists between them and the kangaroos with whom they share the land;
...about some of the challenges that kangaroos have to face everyday in a corporate controlled world;
...and how we, the public, can help kangaroos.

Photo by Diane

The third section of the public event, will be 'How LOCAL Communities are working to protect KANGAROOS

In BMWKD 2025, we will hear from local community groups in Blackheath & Mt Victoria who are working to help protect and care for the local kangaroos.

In Mt Victoria, Alexis & Scott and Juliann & Russell have been doing their utmost to protect and care for kangaroos on their properties for many years
and in Blackheath a number of residents around the Rhodo Gardens have taken down fences or put up signs to protect the local Kangaroo groups.

In the 2025 BMWKD public event, first one or two representatives from Mt Victoria will speak followed by one or two representatives from Blackheath.

The four main issues that these groups are working on are...
...getting vehicles to SLOW DOWN especially between dusk and dawn;
...encouraging the removal of barbed wire and single strand fences throughout our WORLD HERITAGE AREA (WHA);
...education about and enforcement of the DOGS ON LEADS policy except in BMCC designated fenced OFF LEAD AREAS;
...and the mandatory inclusion of wildlife corridors across the GWH & the Railway lines & all connecting local streets.

Photos by Jo

The fourth section of the public event, will be 'the ESSENTIAL WORK that KANGAROOS RESCUERS & CARERS do'

For more than six decades, the Government organisations (like DCCEEW and NPWS) who are responsible for the PROTECTION OF OUR KANGAROOS
have also been responsible for what they call "KANGAROO MANAGEMENT" which exists to feed a government sanctioned wildlife trade of Kangaroo body parts
run by the very influental and corrupt KANGAROO KILLING INDUSTRY.

Over the last few decades, the upper management of 'Animal welfare organisations', like the RSPCA and WIRES, have lost sight of the reason they exist
and are acting more like resource gathering than animal protection organisations

This means that only individual/small groups of volunteer KANGAROOS RESCUERS & CARERS
are in fact rescuing, protecting and caring for our kangaroos.

These Rescuers & Carers are the heros and heroines of our time;
but they are not being supported in any way by the government and other organisations
who are simultaneously failing completely in their mandate to protect kangaroos and their habitat.


OUR RESCUERS & CARERS

...are on call and often work 24-7.
...often struggle to make ends meet if not independently wealthy.
...have no relief crew to step in and look after the babies and injured animals that they have in care when they need a break.
...RSPCA and WIRES recently charged/convicted a well respected and highly skilled kangaroo rescuer and carer for saving a kangaroos life.

The macropod experts at Possumwood Wildlife said in April 2025 "It is deeply saddening and ominous to hear that a well-respected wildlife carer
— who worked tirelessly during the 2019–2020 bushfires and acted in good faith to help a native animal — has been charged and convicted of animal cruelty.
The prosecution, backed by lawyers, a barrister, and a vet who, as far as we know, has no experience with the treatment of fence-injured animals or the husbandry of macropods,
had access to over $90 million donated during the Black Summer fires to HELP animals injured in the bushfires.
Meanwhile, carers — everyday people who dedicate their own time and money to care for wildlife — rarely have the financial means to defend themselves.
Possumwood, which has rescued, treated, and rehabilitated hundreds of macropod fence hangers — likely more than any other group in Australia
— was not permitted to give evidence about what to expect during the recovery of a fence hanger.
Yet a vet with, as far as we know, no experience in the rescue, treatment, or rehabilitation of macropods (especially fence hangers) was considered the expert in this case.
It’s time for wildlife carers to rally together and support one another against the bullying that is rampant in the wildlife care sector.
We stand with Tracey.
None of us are perfect, but we do our best with the few resources we have to protect our precious wildlife.
Carers should be respected and thanked for the work they do — not punished with accusations of animal cruelty."

This 2025 BMWKD Presentation will highlight the essential work that volunteer Rescuers and Carers do.
If government and/or charity organisations are trying to destroy the lives of our highly skilled, hardworking rescuers and carers;
then it is up to us, the PUBLIC, to act to protect them.

Photo from 10play

This Saturday MORNING 18th October Event, will be...

...a celebration of our beloved Kangaroos and many thanks to our hard working RESCUERS & CARERS,
...an opportunity for us to learn learn about First Nations People 'Care for Country’ and 'Care for Kangaroos & Macropods'
...education for the public on how amazing kangaroo/macropods are & some of the everyday challenges they have,
...a chance for concerned citizens to form local community groups to help protect and care for our local kangaroos,
...and a chance to find out what essential work that Rescuers/Carers of Kangaroos do as volunteers and how we can support them.

Photo by Mark Selmes

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Full Description of Recruiting/Support for our Kangaroo Rescuers & Carers

In 2025 BMWKD Afternoon session, we have Steve Garlick (of Possumwood Wildlife) as keynote speaker & presenter.

"Possumwood Wildlife is a self-funded facility, established by Prof. Steve Garlick and Dr. Rosemary Austen,
that helps with the recovery of severely injured and traumatised native animals
and undertakes engagement and research to learn more about the behaviour of these unique animals.
The work done at the recovery centre and fully equipped licensed veterinary hospital
is made possible by private donations.
The facility relies on voluntary staff, including veterinary nurses and a visiting veterinarian
and takes in around 400 to 500 injured, ill or orphaned wild animals each year".

The first section of the R & C Event will be covering: 'what are the range of jobs, resources needed & process to follow
to become a Rescuer &/or Carer or part of a Support Group.

In the first section of the R & C event, Steve will be telling us about...
...the range of jobs done by Rescuers & Carers and by those in a Support Network;
...the resources required to set up as a R&C or to join a Support Network;
...the process followed to become a R&C or to be able to join a Support Network;
;
...an approximate monthly cost to be an ongoing Rescuer & Carer or member of a Support Network.

Photo source unknown

The second section of the R & C Event will be covering: 'what knowledge/expertise is required at each stage
to becoming a R & C or to join a SUPPORT NETWORK'

In the second section of the R & C event, Steve will be telling us about...
...the preliminary knowledge/expertise required to enter Rescuers & Carers or Support Network course;
...the knowlegde/expertise required to get qualified to be able to be a R&C or Support Network member;
...what is the post qualification mentoring or assistance given to new R&C or Support Network members and how we can ensure we get support;
...the post qualification courses available to new R&C or Support Network members and when to do them;
...an approximate cost to qualify as a Rescuer & Carer or Support Network member.

Photo from BMWKD 2024

The third section of the R & C Event will be covering: 'what are some of the examples of rescue, care or support work
that I would be required to do once I qualify as a R & C or SUPPORT NETWORK member'

In the third section of the R & C event, Steve will be telling us about equipment needed and what to do/what not to do...
...when you are looking after a joey - pinkie, in pouch, at-foot;
...when you encounter a live kangaroo caught in a fence;
...when you encounter a live kangaroo hit by a vehicle;
...determine if a kangaroo is definitely dead; and how do you decide, if it is alive, whether it's life can be saved or not? What do you do in all of these cases?;

Photo by Mark Selmes

The fourth section of the R & C Event will be Q &A and handing out of relevant material'

In the fourth section of the R & C event, Steve will be answering questions and handing out reference material.

Photo by Greg

This Saturday AFTERNOON 18th October Event - will be a chance for the kangaroo loving public...

... to find out what they need to keep protecting and caring for our national icon,
... to find out what they need to do, have and know to become a rescuer and carer or join a support network,
... to find out what is involved in various types of basic rescue and care,
... to find out what to do when an injured or sick animal is encountered.

Photo by Mark Selmes

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Full Description of Outreach

Kangaroo Outreach is the process of informing the public on how government departments and other organisations
are doing the Kangaroo Killing Industry's bidding and not protecting our national icon.

In 2024, people attended the Lithgow and Katoomba railway stations in the morning and afternoon.
The public responded to us "Wishing them a happy World Kangaroo Day" and were keen to learn more.

In 2025, this outreach will happen during the day on World Kangaroo Day itself - 24/10/2025.
The flyers we will be handing out in the 2025 year, will be ...
...the Kangaroos need our help now flyer to educate people on the challenges to kangaroo survival
...the Kangaroo Care Community Group flyer that encourages each community to monitor, protect and care for their local kangaroos.

This Friday 24th October Event - will be a chance for the public to hear about...

... Uncle Max & World Kangaroo Day,
... how awesome kangaroos are,
... the challenges Kangaroos face to their survival,
... how Macropod rescuers and carers are the only protectors of our kangaroos.

Full Description of the Kangaroo Inspired Piano Concert by Anne Edwards

The Kangaroo inspired Concert will be held at the WFSA on 24th October 2025,
starting at 7pm (so arrive at around 6:45pm).

Anne's musicianship and theatricality will make this a very memorable evening.



The Evening's program sequence will be ...

7:00pm to 7:15pm - VIP <-> Welcome to Country, Introduction to WKD, Introduction to Kangaroo Sanctuaries & Introduction to Anne.
7:15pm to 7:50pm - Part 1 of Anne's performance
7:50pm to 8:10pm - Break with displays, tea, coffee & biscuits
8:10pm to 8:20pm - The expertise and research work of Possumwood Wildlife Sanctuary
8:20pm to 9:55pm - Part 2 of Anne's performance

The images of our magnificent Kangaroos will complement the music.