2024 Blue Mountains World Kangaroo Day Events
The themes of the 2024 Blue Mountains World Kangaroo Day were...
- COMMUNITY - How to get local communities involved in the monitoring, protection and care of local kangaroos.
- CONNECTION - How to work together in harmony; despite the sadness and tragedy of insensitive and delibrately cruel actions inflicted on our kangaroos.
- COMPASSION - Investigating the resources, knowledge and support we need to save, care for and protect our national icon.
The main Activity on World Kangaroo Day, Thursday 24th October
On Thursday 24th of October, people handed out the Blue Mountains World Kangaroo Day 2024 Event and the Kangaroos need our help now flyer
in Katoomba and Lithgow train stations in the morning and at Blackheath and Mt Victoria in the afternoon.
All groups found a very positive response from approximately 80% of people especially using an introductory statement like "Happy World Kangaroo Day".
Some people came to the Saturday event as a consequence of this outreach.
The Main Event of Blue Mountains World Kangaroo Day on Saturday 26th October
The main Blue Mountains World Kangaroo Day Event was in the format of a seminar with speakers, Q & A and panel discussion - see BMWKD24 Saturday Program.
It was held on Saturday, 26th of October 2024 and went from 10am to 4pm.
It was held at Wentworth Falls School of Arts Theatre
which was at 217 to 219 Great Western Highway, Wentworth Falls, Blue Mountains.
This Event was ...
- a celebration of our beloved Kangaroos
- a chance for concerned citizens to form local community groups to help protect and care for our local mobs
- an opportunity for us to learn how to 'Care for Country’ plus get official support to Care for all Kangaroos & Macropods
- and a fundraiser for Rescuers/Carers of Kangaroos.
‘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
Program of the 2024 Conference
The Welcome to Country was given by Greg Keightley
Morning Session - COMMUNITY: Stories of Communities joining together to care for and protect Kangaroos
This Session started at about 10:30am and ended at about 12:20am.
This session included the following...
- Rescuer/Carer, Greg, talked about how individuals or groups of people have been able to save, protect and/or care for local Kangaroos.
Here is Greg's morning presentation in pdf format.
- Blue Mountains Resident, Alexis spoke about how she and the local kangaroos share the land.
Here is Alexis's morning presentation in pdf format.
- Rescuer/Carer, Tracy, with help from Greg showed about how she and local residents were able to get a kangaroo friendly gate into the fence around the local cemetery.
Here is Tracy's morning presentation in pdf format.
- Award Winning Author and Poet, David Brooks, recited three of his poems Requiem, Taralga Rd & Leaping to Boston.
Here is David's morning presentation in pdf format.
- Graham Davis King talked about the importance of kangaroos and country to First Nations People.
Midday Session - CONNECTION: Rest and Relaxation
This Session started at 12:20pm and ended about 2:15pm.
This session included...
A 10 minute Group Meditation run by Dr Veronica K (Sri Yantra).
A wonderful Vegan Lunch by Rafida, from Bibi's Kitchen, local businesses and BMWKD volunteers.
Frances of WildTalk - a not-for-profit wildlife carer counselling service - showed us how important is "care for self".
Afternoon Session - COMPASSION: How we can protect our unique and magnificent Kangaroos.
Session 3 started at 2:15pm and ended at 4:30pm.
This session included...
- Rescuer/Carer, Greg, spoke about the problems within colonial society that result in our precious Kangaroos being lost forever and about the world-wide advocacy to save them..
Here is Greg's afternoon presentation in pdf format.
- Educator, Graham Davis King, spoke about the Yuin Declaration and First Nations People.
- Elizabeth Ellis showed us how the laws governing protection of our native wildlife are completely ineffective as shown in her book 'Animal Law'
- BMCC Councillor, Suzie vanOrDorp, spoke about...
...her Sister being a Kangaroo Rescuer & Carer before the 2019 bush fires;
...how the Planetary Inititive and Rights of Nature programs could be used to protect native wildlife in our WHA;
...that she can meet with a small group of Kangaroo Advocates to see how BMCC can help Kangaroos.
