Hello possums…

By Tania Martin
THREE hills wildlife warriors are standing up to save the endangered Leadbeater’s Possum and will take their campaign on to the international stage.
Twins Ellie and Mollie Travica, of Emerald, and Kallista’s Elly Robertson, along with fellow Beaconhills College student Emma Falkenberg, of Berwick, have been named grand champions in the 2009 Macquarie Bank Future Problem Solving competition for their project Helping the Endangered Leadbeater’s Possum (HELP).
The girls created the project when they saw how Black Saturday had destroyed more than half of the possums’ habitat and left them closer to extinction.
Elly said it was vital to help rebuild the possums’ habitat because fewer than 1000 of the animals remained. The girls’ win will see them take the project to a competition in America in June.
But Emma can’t go, which will see Luke McConnell, of Berwick, step in.
Elly said she would be thrilled to be flying the flag for the Leadbeater’s Possum when in America.
When the winners were announced at the recent problem solving competition, Elly said she was holding her breath the whole time even though the girls came third last year for their project YES (Youth for East Timor Squad).
This project saw the girls raise awareness and more than $4000 for children living in war-torn parts of East Timor.
Elly said the girls were more determined to do better this year.
In June, the Gazette, reported how the girls braved the weather conditions to take part in a tree- planting day at Yellingbo Reserve to boost the Leadbeater’s habitat.
They also sold wristbands and called for donations to make boxes specifically for the possums. They raised $11,500, which made more than 77 boxes. The group hopes to raise more than $20,000 to make the trip to America.
Anyone wishing to sponsor can visit www.leadbeaters.org.au