Candy came in to our home care on a very hot December day in 2002, weighing 1.5kg. She was found in our village of Wyrallah trying to get under a pile of timber to escape the heat.

She settled after a couple of days handling but would not sit on a “fluffy” to feed – NO WAY!

She was fed a supplement that was her favorite food & often we wore it too!

She liked to sit on my tummy & face me to feed & as was the norm, would be producing pellets at the same time.

In January ’03, weighing over 2kgs, she was introduced to another female “Bella”, who was occupying our soft release tree – a Tallowood surrounded by an above ground pool surround – she took to these new surroundings with gusto – but Bella used to bar her way down to get access to the leaf pots – some days, Terry would have to help me feed them as they were behaving like children- clambering over each other & wanting each others food!

We have delightful photos of the two koalas- they thrived on swamp mahogany- tallow & forest red gum & dunneii, all grown on our property.

Our leaf collectors- John, Magda, Alister, Ruth & Richard brought fresh supplies to feed our growing little ones.

When Candy was nearing 3kgs, we would put a portable fence around different trees to get her accustomed to different barks & tree trunk sizes- this gave the original tallow a rest for a while.

In May ’03, ear tagged & weighing over 3.5kgs, she released herself but stayed in the vicinity – I kept an almost daily diary of her where abouts.

June ’04 & it’s confirmed Candy has movement in the pouch & by December, her female back young we called “Lollypop” is out & about & showing off – we are fairly sure Paw Paw is Candy’s partner & in November ’05, another female “Jellybean” is out of the pouch. Candy is a good caring Mum.

The two joeys have moved on but we see them occasionally- Candy remains here- no joey this year as Paw Paw has been in care himself with an injured wrist.

On odd occasions if we are near the tree, she is sitting in, Candy clambers down & with an out-stretched paw, indicates she wants some swamp to nibble on, an excuse for us to give her a quick “tick check” & close up look. It is comforting that we can keep an eye on her health & well-being.

How lucky we are that she still trusts us, as she is a wild animal & still chooses her home range here.

Written by carer Margaret Russell