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 assist & protect them.
We are suggesting that a support network of people is set up around each existing or incoming rescuer and/or carer;
to take on peripheral jobs like picking up supplies, transporting animals, feeding animals, cleaning or assisting in building or domestic chores.
Photo by Greg
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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