Save The Bilbies!

Last week, at Learning 4 Life, (our home schooling group), we had Frank from the Save The Bilby Fund come to talk to us about bilbies and the work they do with them. He was a great speaker and very inspirational. With a voice that commanded the children's attention, he spoke about bilbies and taking responsibility for their survival. Queensland bilbies are the most threatened and Frank and his team have worked hard to build a fence at Currawinya National Park to keep predators out and re-establish a wild breeding population of bilbies. Frank asked us who we thought owned the Currawinya National Park. Most people respond that the Government does - he is very quick to correct everyone that it's not the Government that owns it - it's us. He told the kids that their parents pay money to the government and that the government acts on our behalf. And unless we start speaking up and letting them know what's important to us, nothing will be done about issues like saving the bilby from extinction. The children ranged in age from 1 up and there were a lot of young ones around 3 - 8 sitting, listening, and paying attention to him. He really captivated them and it made us think a lot about our role in society.

Liam is a real thinker and on the way home started talking about bilbies and what Frank had said. He wanted to know why rabbits were a threat to bilbies and why it was important to buy chocolate bilbies at Easter. The Save the Bilby Fund works hard trying to get support from major supermarkets and confectionary suppliers to adopt the Bilby cause.

Liam's train of thought then went to what we can do to get rid of rabbits. And his brilliant solution..... "We should write to the leader of the Government and tell him that when the soldiers come home they should be sent out to shoot all the rabbits. Do you think there would be enough soldiers, mum?" I love it - great job for the armed forces if you ask me!

He then started asking if one person can make this happen. So we talked about one person starting it and getting the idea out there but that the Government would listen if he had the support of lots of people because they represent our whole country. I explained that a government has to do what the majority of it's people want.

Liam is still thinking about his idea and I am going to help him to write to Kevin Rudd. And we'll let Frank know too - I think he'll be proud to have got his message out and to know that he had an impact on us.

If you're interested in finding out more information visit The Save The Bilby Fund website. And if you're planning on buying chocolate bilbies for Easter make sure you get the Darrell Lea ones - they are the only chocolate manufacturer that contributes money to the Save the Bilby Fund though the sale of chocolate bilbies.