The long-awaited Great Koala National Park in NSW's Mid-North Coast was announced in September 2025, and will protect over 400,000 hectares of native forest and countless endangered animals including koalas, Greater gliders, and Yellow-bellied gliders. 

But behind this announcement has been years of tireless volunteer community work to put pressure on the government to fulfil their conservation promises, and to make sure that in the meantime, the forests and animals within will still be there to protect. 

Hosts James and Elysee meet with ecologist Mark Graham, who introduces them to the lush subtropical forests in the hills behind Coffs Harbour and the charismatic gliders there threatened by native forest logging. 

They also meet Deanna Markinova, head of Forest Ecology Alliance, a community volunteer group that conducts surveys to keep checks on logging activity and look out for vulnerable animals. 

With De and ecologists Sue and Hank Bower, James and Elysee head out spotlighting to look for Greater and Yellow-bellied gliders to prevent their den trees from being logged. 

Finally, James and Elysee visit the Blicks River Guardians – Meredith Stanton and Barry Hunt up in Dorrigo. Every morning they hold a vigil by the main road, blocking the entrance of Clouds Creek State Forest to prevent loggers from going in, and educate people passing by. 

Thank you to: 

Mark Graham 
Deanna Markovina from Forest Ecology Alliance

• https://www.facebook.com/forestecologyalliance/ 
• Volunteers needed – send a message to their Facebook page or email [email protected] 

Sue Bower

Hank Bower

Meredith Stanton and Barry Hunt from Blicks River Guardians (Glider Reviver)

• https://www.facebook.com/blicksriverguardians 

Recorded, written, and edited by James Worsfold and Elysee Lee