Sue Ashton – Koala Ambassador

Sue Ashton is devoting her life to the preservation and continuation of koalas. As popular as the marsupials are, she warns Australia is on a trajectory to lose them. Since she began volunteering at the Port Macquarie Koala Hospital in 2017, Sue has progressed to the role of Chairperson of Koala Conservation Australia. From caring for injured koalas to managing staff and volunteers through bushfires, floods and COVID, she has led with confidence and kindness. In 2022 Sue will take on even bigger challenges. But her incredible efforts aren’t going unnoticed. Sue has been nominated for the Port Macquarie Hastings Citizen of the Year award.

“I tell new Koala Hospital volunteers that now is such an exciting time,” says Sue Ashton. “We are really making a difference for the koalas and the potential to help the wild koala population has never been better.”

After the 2019/20 Black Summer, the Koala Hospital (managed by Koala Conservation Australia) was thrust into the spotlight. A Go-Fund-Me page was set up to raise money to help the hospital manage an inundation of injured koalas. To date, that campaign has raised close to $8 million.

“This little organisation has become a fairly significant business,” Sue says as she reflects on what the generous donations have allowed. “The public has put trust in us to do something worthwhile with that money.” 

Overseeing A World-First

It’s not a responsibility Sue has taken lightly. She worked hard to update the organisation’s business strategy and make plans for what was once a far-off goal: A wild koala conservation breeding facility. The precinct at Cowarra – named Guulabaa – will be open to visitors. Six-nine months of construction will begin at the end of March. 

“It’s a world first so we are under so much scrutiny – there’s a lot of pressure to get it right,” Sue explains. “We’ve got multi-million-dollar buildings, we’re applying for scientific licenses to breed koalas – the biosecurity around a breeding program is enormous.”

Once the Guulabaa breeding facility and tourism hub is complete, the Hospital’s Lord Street operations will temporarily relocate there. The current site will be redeveloped into a new Koala Hospital and world-class tourism offering. Sue was instrumental in securing the significant NSW Government grant that has allowed the development. 

“I think it will be fabulous and will really put Port on the map in terms of koalas and koala care,” Sue says. “The flow on to other businesses here should be really powerful as well.” 

Securing Koala Habitat

In case that wasn’t enough, Sue spent 15 months facilitating a $3.5 million donation to the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service. It allowed National Parks to purchase 194 hectares of prime koala habitat at 147 The Ruins Way in Port Macquarie. The land was under threat from residential development but will now support the region’s wild koala population. 

Koala Ambassadors Unite

Sue acknowledges she has had the support of good mentors as well as a committed team of volunteers.

“I can go to them and discuss things, bounce ideas around,” she explains. “All of them come with a lot of experience and they willingly give of their time.” 

Sue finds satisfaction in being able to draw on the experience she gained in high-powered corporate roles. She combines that experience with her lifelong love of wildlife.  

“I’d like to see Australia retain koalas because right now we are on a trajectory to lose them,” she concludes. “Unless we are ambassadors for koalas they won’t win.”  

Congratulations on your Citizen of the Year nomination, Sue!

Read about fellow nominee, Jamie Donovan.