SOURCE :- THE AGE NEWS
London: Edward Hoddle remembers when Gunnedah, the small NSW town where he grew up, was proudly known as the “Koala Capital of the World”.
But those memories are bittersweet now, as koala populations in the area have fallen dramatically due to habitat loss, disease and a changing climate.
“Back then, you could drive into Gunnedah and see koalas everywhere,” Hoddle says. “Now, there are hardly any left. It’s a stark reminder of how quickly things can change.”
Edward Hoddle addresses the Koala Gala audience at London’s Merchant Taylors’ Hall.Credit: Hubert Cecil
This personal connection has driven Hoddle to shepherd some of London’s high society into joining the campaign to elevate the plight of the koala on the global stage. He aims to create a platform for Australian wildlife conservation that rivals the success of organisations such as the Tusk Trust.
Founded in 1990, the Tusk Trust has raised more than £50 million ($103 million) for wildlife conservation in Africa. It is now a prominent fixture, attracting global leaders and philanthropists.
A koala in Gunndedah in 2018.Credit: University of Sydney
Hoddle, 33, hopes to mirror this success, starting with the black-tie Koala Gala, which raised more than £101,000 for non-profit Australian Wildlife Conservancy (AWC) – as part of a wider, matched Big Give funding campaign – at its second annual event last month.
In Hoddle’s words, the great, the good and the Australians came en masse.
“The Koala Gala is a chance for Australians and their friends in the UK to reconnect with our roots and give back,” says Hoddle, who studied at Oxford and works in heritage and tourism strategy.
In the process, he is fostering a new form of “koala diplomacy”. His event, which brings together prominent figures from Britain and Australia, is a reminder of how cultural ties can be leveraged to drive change.
“There was a real opportunity here to raise awareness for Australia’s threatened wildlife, many of which people in the UK may not know about,” Hoddle says. “I just don’t think Australia was doing enough to take advantage of the obvious soft-power advantage it has here for causes like this.”
Former British prime minister Liz Truss with George Brandis, a former Australian high commissioner to the UK and a columnist for this masthead. Credit: Hubert Cecil
This year’s gala, which attracted 275 guests, was held at London’s Merchant Taylors’ Hall. Inside the 800-year-old venue – where King Henry VIII once feasted and Winston Churchill dined – a glittering crowd of British aristocrats, Australian expats and diplomatic heavyweights raised glasses of Clare Valley Riesling in honour of a small, sleepy marsupial some had never seen outside a zoo.
Notable attendees included author Kathy Lette, socialite Lady Colin Campbell, and former Australian high commissioner to the UK George Brandis and his date, former British prime minister Liz Truss. The evening’s entertainment featured Australian Amy Dickson, acknowledged by BBC Music Magazine as one of the world’s best classical saxophonists to date. She performed a meditative piece inspired by the sounds of the Australian bush.
Last year’s event was featured in the pages of Tatler, a prestigious British society magazine renowned for its coverage of the upper echelons of high society, targeting affluent, influential individuals interested in fashion, culture, philanthropy and the arts. It will again feature in the July issue.
The funds raised will support the AWC’s efforts at Waulinbakh Wildlife Sanctuary, a vital koala habitat in NSW. AWC, founded by the late British businessman and philanthropist Martin Copley in 1991 and boasting King Charles III as its patron, is the largest private conservation organisation in Australia, managing more than 12.9 million hectares of land across 33 sanctuaries. Its science-led approach to conservation includes habitat restoration, feral predator control and Indigenous partnerships, with a focus on reversing the decline of species such as the koala.
Gala goers Jamie Barclay, Australian Wildlife Conservancy’s Elizabeth Crotty, gala guru Edward Hoddle and saxophonist Amy Dickson.Credit: Hubert Cecil
In just two years, the Koala Gala has more than doubled its guest list from the previous year. Hoddle hopes to continue expanding the event, ultimately building it into a high-profile celebration of Australian wildlife akin to Tusk’s African gala.
“We want to take it even further,” Hoddle says. “It’s not just about raising money; it’s about creating a global conversation about Australia’s biodiversity crisis. The koala is just the start – there’s so much more to protect.
“I really have a vision where members of the royal family – who care so much about Australia, biodiversity and protecting endangered species – are the guests of honour.”
Koalas, which are often considered the face of Australian wildlife, are a flagship species for AWC. Their habitat is critical not only for their survival but also for myriad other species that share the same environment.
“While koalas are the focus, they represent so much more,” says Elizabeth Crotty, head of development for Australian Wildlife Conservancy UK.
“Protecting their habitat means safeguarding the future of many other species.”
Despite the dire situation, Crotty remains optimistic.
“We are making progress, but we need global support,” she says. “With the help of passionate supporters here in the UK, we can continue to fund essential conservation projects back home.”
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