It was a few days before leaving for Cape York that Jenny suggested (as brand new members of Friends of Koalas) that there may be an animal or two that we could collect from Lismore for a dropoff at the wildlife hospital at Steve Irwin's Australia Zoo at Beerwah.

A call to Barb Dobner confirmed that we'd have two extra young chaps joining us namely Kingsley and Charlie. Following a fond farewell from Lismore's Lola and Roy, we pointed forthward to the northward, first stop Beerwah.

We were told the wildlife hospital would be a special place, but nothing prepared us for this amazing experience. We asked for a look around but such is the enthusiasm in this place we were given the grand tour along with a visiting vet student from the US. Everything about this hospital is first class, reminiscent of the sort of hospital that we as humans could only get into with the highest rate of medical benefits.

We were shown quarantine areas, pathology lab, pharmacy, operating theatre, giant autoclave and a modern X-Ray dept. There's a special area for reptiles plus another for macropods all manned by three permanent full-time vets assisted by two part timers accompanied by vet nurses by the truckload. They also call on up to 100 volunteers when required.

We watched as one of their vets examined an anesthetised Kingsley which sadly drew the prognosis that he had a type of leukemia and would have to be euthenased. This type of problem is not uncommom in koalas coming from Lismore. If only we knew why. Happily, Charlie fared better and with the sort of professional and loving attention he can expect at Beerwah, may return soon to the dedicated carers at Lismore.

We like to think that these young vets will continue their dedication to wildlife as they move into mainstream vet clinics, remembering their experience in a place built by the inspiring Steve Irwin who's Mum and Dad taught him to love wildlife in all its forms. He repaid them and us with this wonderful legacy to the man who said "Crikey"!

Regards,

Jenny Abraham and John Downs