Save The Bilby Fund

National Bilby Day Second Sunday in September

Bilby Merchandise

Visit our online shop to purchase a wide range of bilby merchandise including children’s books, bilby toys and much more. Please help us in our work to save the bilby.

Board Members

Frank Manthey

Co-Founder of Save the Bilby Fund

Frank ran away from home when he was 13 after seeing a job advertisement in an outback newspaper for a "cowboy" on Quilberry station, 1000km west of Brisbane.  His dreams of riding horses and lassoing cattle like his hero John Wayne were quickly shattered when he arrived without a swag and found out that the life of a "cowboy" included milking cows, killing sheep, making butter and weeding the vegetable gardens. Frank overcame his disappointment with hard work and was soon appointed as a "ringer", mustering cattle and sheep.  He sent home his wages to help his mother raise his brothers and sisters.

He married Eva Branfield, a Kooma Aborigine, in 1958 at the age of 21 and raised six children whom he taught to respect others, believe in themselves and to be proud and honest Australians. In 1996, Frank’s wife of 38 years died of a heart attack and he needed a distraction to help him overcome his grief. The sighting of a bilby in the wild sealed his future.

Together with Peter McRae, he launched Save The Bilby Fund in 1999, and Frank’s skills as a motivator have guided the fund on its path to raising much needed dollars and awareness to support the conservation of this species. Frank observed the tourist population which came to Charleville and  saw an opportunity to promote the plight of the bilby to these visitors.  He came up with the idea of delivering Bilby talks, developed the concept and after working all day as a Ranger for QPWS, spent 4 nights a week during the tourist season giving the talks in his own time.  He charged an entry fee to the shows which included a talk about the plight of bilbies as well as the opportunity to see the captive bilby population at the National Parks Office.  Gradually, he also devised merchandise to sell to support his fundraising efforts.  Frank used his recreation leave to travel to places such as Toowoomba and Brisbane to sell merchandise in shopping centres.  He visited schools with the infamous Dawnie Bilby to teach students about the plight of this unique species.  Frank also visited the Leukaemia Ward of the Royal Brisbane Hospital to show Dawnie the Bilby to the children.

Frank’s passion for conservation means that he far exceeds the hours for which he is paid each week.  In addition to fundraising, Frank’s individual achievements with the Fund include devising the panel of fence concept, coordinating much of the media, enlisting the support of Darrell Lea, bilby visits to schools and community events, gazetting National Bilby Day, enlisting the support of high profile people to help support the cause and coming up with the idea for and actioning the Threatened Species Day events which now occur across Australia. 

Peter McRae

Co-Founder of Save the Bilby Fund

Peter was born in Finley, a little town in country NSW and attended Finley Primary School.  He hada stable background with a pretty strict Methodist upbringing.  He went to church every Sunday and was involved with the church groups.  As  kid growing up, he was always interested in nature, ‘always looking under logs and collecting butterflies, frogs and tadpoles and all that sort of stuff’.  He did well at school and was Captain of both his Primary and High schools.  He had always wanted to do a degree of some sort and considered astronomy, physics and mathematics, but luckily for the bilbies, got a Commonwealth Scholarship and went to the Australian National University in Canberra in 1970 to study for a zoology degree.

Armed with a degree he looked for work.  There wasn’t much round in the biology/zoology field, so he took some time out and went to far north Queensland and collected butterflies for a while,  Then followed time working on farms and helping out family in a newsagency.

He moved to Brisbane in 1976 and found work first in the Golden Circle Cannery and then with a surveyor for the first 12 months.  At that time, he became involved in the Wildlife Preservation Society of Queensland, did some volunteer work for them and ended up editor of the newsletter, He also did some volunteer work for a Ph.D student at Queensland University who was studying rats on Fraser Island.

Finally he got a job at Griffith University, in the School of Australian and Environmental Studies in 1978, in the Biology/Population/Ecology area.  He spent six years there preparing laboratory classes. He also helped organise field trips and field courses for students, mainly to Stradbroke Island.  He was involved in a variety of research projects mainly in marine and fresh water systems.

He set up the Museum of Biological Specimens at the School and was its curator.

In 1984, Peter moved to Charleville to study kangaroos and was given the opportunity to work on bilbies in 1988.  Peter surveyed the Diamantina Shire for vertebrate animals with Rob Atherton, Gary Porter and Darryl Reimer, Part of the emphasis of these surveys was to look for endangered or threatened species.  In the Diamantine Shire, a number of species were thought to be endangered or threatened and the bilby was one of them.   The field trips to the area were conducted four time a year for a month at a time, over four or five years.  It was a huge effort with many thousands of trap nights, many hundreds of hours of spotlighting and trapping animals, Despite that intensive survey effort over an extensive area of Western Queensland where bilbies were known to occur, no bilbies were seen.

Rob Atherton started a more intensive project into searching for bilbies and evidence of bilbies was finally found in the Diamantine Shire.  Burrows were counted and spotlighting was done in those areas.  Bilbies were trapped and radio collars were placed on.  Eventually, some bilbies were taken back to Charleville to begin the captive breeding program.

Peter’s research has enabled Save the Bilby Fund to make great progress in the conservation of this species.

Adapted from Renn, Narelle, 2003, Anything’s Possible! The Bilby Fence and Beyond, Colourwise Reproductions, Brisbane

Dawn Fraser

(Our Patron)

Dawn Fraser is Australia’s greatest Olympian. In November 1999, Dawn was awarded “World Athlete of the Century” at the World Sport Awards in Vienna. In the same year was also awarded “Athlete of the Century” by the Australian Sports Hall of Fame. She was voted the person who best symbolises Australia and in 1998 was included as one of Australia’s National Living Treasures.

Dawn Fraser’s sporting accomplishments are unlikely to be repeated - in swimming or any other sport. She is an international phenomenon: a multi-Olympic and Commonwealth Games Gold Medal winner whose success stretched over fifteen magnificent years. During her career she broke and held 41 World records and was undefeated over 100 metres freestyle.

Born in the Sydney suburb of Balmain, Dawn is the youngest of eight children from a working-class family. In 1952, her awesome swimming ability was noted by coach Harry Gallagher, who took over the training of the broad-shouldered teenager and set the 1956 Olympics in her sights.

In 1955 Dawn won her first Australian title in the 220 yards freestyle and, during that summer season, went on to re-write the record books: setting new Australian records in all freestyle events up to 880 yards. At the 1956 Melbourne Olympics she became an Australian national hero and world swimming star, winning the 100 metres freestyle gold medal in world record time as well as taking gold in the 100 metres freestyle relay and silver in the 400 metres freestyle.

Dawn won two more gold medals at the 1958 Commonwealth Games in Cardiff, Wales, and another gold at the Rome Olympics in 1960 for the 100 metres freestyle. By this time she had attained the status of a legend, in the first rank of Australian sporting heroes. Yet then, as today, she remained untouched by her fame.

After winning four gold medals at the 1962 Commonwealth Games in Perth, Dawn finished her international swimming career at the Tokyo Olympics in 1964 silencing her critics by winning a gold medal in the 100 metres freestyle at the age of 27. Taking her total Olympic medal count to four gold medals and four silver medals.

She has continued to give back to her sport and other sports by being mentor for Able and Disable Australian Olympic Teams since 1988.

Twenty years later Dawn returned to the public life as an independent member of the New South Wales Parliament. She has since maintained an active role in the sporting and wider community as Patron of the Cerebral Palsy Sports Association, the Wheelchair Sports Association of Victoria and of the Ladies Professional Golf Association. Is a Founding Member of the Laureus Sports Academy, a member of the Sport for Good Foundation and Vice President of the World Association of Olympic Winners, while continuing to support sporting clubs across the country. She is also a member of the NSW Sports Advisory Board and is a Director of the Wests Tigers Football Club, Balmain Leagues Club and Balmain Football Club.
 
At the 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games Opening Ceremony, Dawn was honoured by the Atlanta Olympic Organising Committee as one of seven greatest athletes of all time and also carried the Olympic torch on its way to the main stadium.

At the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games, Juan Antonio Samaranch, President of the International Olympic Committee made Dawn, First Lady of the Olympic games partnering him to the Opening Ceremony in which she was one of seven Australian women to run with the Torch in the main Stadium. She also was the Attaché to the Australian Olympic Team in 2000. She remains one of Australia’s best-loved identities.

Kevin Bradley

(Chair)  

Kevin joined Save the Bilby Fund in 2002 and has been Chairman of the Fund since 2009. 

Kevin is the Director of Veterinary Services and Animal Operations with the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA) Queensland. His primary responsibilities include strategic planning and operational and administrative management of animal and veterinary operations for the RSPCA state wide. He has a strong background in captive animal care and welfare as well as wildlife conservation. Kevin is committed to improving animal welfare outcomes across a range of taxa having worked within the zoological industry in excess of 20 years and now focusing his work within the broader animal welfare and conservation sectors.

  • Director of Veterinary Services and Animal Operations:  RSPCA Queensland.
  • Animal Welfare and Ethics Committee member - RSPCA Queensland.
  • Former Chief Operating Officer and General Manager Life-Sciences:  Dreamworld/ Whitewater World, Gold Coast Australia.
  • Past President: Australasian Regional Association of Zoological Parks and Aquaria, Queensland Branch (ARAZPAQ).
  • Board Member: Australasian Regional Association of Zoological Parks and Aquaria (ARAZPA).
  • Founding Chairman:  ARAZPA Accreditation Committee.
  • Appointed Representative to the Recreational and Commercial Animal Management Advisory Committee (RACAMAC) to the Minister for the Environment Queensland (2003 – 2007).
  • Zoological Industry Representative:  Rural Industry Training Advisory Council, advising State and Federal Government training priorities.
  • Representative of the Animal Care and Management Working Group to develop qualification framework for the Captive and related Animal Care Sectors. 
  • Board member:  National Industry Steering Committee for the Animal Care and Management Training Package. 
  • Representative of the captive animal sector/ Animal Care and Management Training Package 2003/ 2004. Course development – implementation and endorsement. 
  • Convenor:  National Zookeeper Education Working Group. 
  • Committee Member:  Course Development Advisory Committee (CDAC) for Cert III in Native Animal Rehabilitation.

Dr Paul Campbell

Dr Paul Campbell, Ph.D., Post Grad, Dipl. Comp. Sci., Fellow ACS, has been a director of technology companies spanning software engineering, web development, multimedia and information architecture since 1984.

Paul is the Executive Officer of the ICT Industry Workgroup, the industry body that advises the Queensland Government on ICT governance, procurement and industry development policy on behalf of ICT industry associations. Paul is also the principal consultant at Cogentia, a consultancy specialising in the commercial impacts of climate change, green IT, ‘smart’ infrastructure and the digital economy.

Paul regularly presents on industry practice, green IT, the commercial impacts of climate change, and the role of the National Broadband Network in fostering the digital economy.

Paul has established four successful companies and has been instrumental in setting up four landmark industry associations, The Australian Interactive Media Industry Association, Software Queensland, the ICT Industry Workgroup and most recently the Green IT Special Interest Group. He has served on many government boards and committees and is currently a member of the national Built Environment Digital Modelling Workgroup under the auspices of the Built Environment Industry Innovation Council and the State Library of Queensland Foundation.

Throughout his business career Paul has maintained a strong interest in building relationships between business, government and the education and research sectors. He is a Fellow of the Australian Computer Society and a life member of Software Queensland.

Steve Curnow

(Company Secretary)

Steve joined the Board of Save the Bilby Fund in June 2011.  As Secretary, Steve will help the Fund to progress its strategies and initiatives to achieve its end goals.

Steve brings a personal passion and love of the Bilbies as well as professional organisation skills from a career in the military, engineering and logistics.  He has been involved in voluntary work for many years with sporting clubs and fundraising.

Steve first became involved with the Save the Bilby Fund in 2009 after the death of his son Luke.  Luke had a life-long love for the Bilbies and after his sad passing, funds and awareness were raised in Steve’s community for the Bilbies and Luke.   Steve’s friendship with Frank and Natalie has since cemented and culminated with his appointment as Secretary.  Steve is a proud and dedicated member of the team and looks forward to doing all he can to help build the Fund and save this natural treasure.

Professor Jean-Marc Hero

Associate Professor Jean-Marc Hero is the Deputy Director of the Environmental Futures Research Centre at Griffith University. He currently leads the Bilby Research Team studying the ecology and physiology of Queensland’s unique Bilby populations.

Professor Ian Hume

Ian is a Emeritus Professor at Sydney University

Tim Krause

Tim brings excellent knowledge of accounting procedures and processes to Save the Bilby Fund.

Debbie Lewis

(Company Secretary)

 

Al Mucci

Al Mucci has been in the zoological industry for over 15 years and has held the position of General Manager of the Life Sciences department at Dreamworld for the past 5 years.  Al has broad based experience with a wide variety of animals which has included senior positions in non-government organisations, private and public institutions.  

Al is President of the Executive Committee of the Zoo and Aquarium Association (ZAA) Queensland branch (ZAAQ) and is Chair of the Legislative Standards Working Group.  Al also holds the position of Accreditation Officer for ZAA and represents the association and industry to enhance its position and perception within the broader community and raise the standards of zoological collections across Australasia. 

Finally, Al is an invited member of the Biosecurity Queensland Ministerial Advisory Council and Chair of the Biosecurity Queensland Engagement and Education Committee.   Al value adds to Dreamworld’s Life Sciences diverse animal collection by delivering world class animal exhibits and presentations in line with modern zoo principles.

Our Staff

Tracey Reynolds

Born and raised in Toowoomba, Tracey moved to Charleville in 2002 where she joined the local wildlife carer group and has been looking after injured and orphaned animals since then. With a background in banking, marketing and animal husbandry, Tracey is well suited to her role as Charleville Project Co-ordinator which encompasses the daily administration duties of the fund as well as the marketing of the Bilby Experience and of course the best part looking after the welfare of the bilbies.

Peggy Mucci

Peggy works at our Runaway Branch. Her role includes managing our merchandise, friendship applications and processing corporate and online orders.