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l Koalas ramp up campaign
www.warrnamboolweekly.com.au
Friday, September 19, 2025
MOVE over the orange kelpie – the with council rates notices now out equality and we need some financial towns will also show their support. CFA koala is about to take your (which include this levy) it will be hitting support to continue this fight, to cover “The koalas are available from either things such as insurance costs. We’re myself or Leigh Harry for just $25 home and hitting hard. place. When driving around the district in the lead up to the last state election, motorists couldn’t help but notice bright orange kelpie cut-outs adorning fences and homes. Now Grassmere CFA captain and proud leader of the #scrapthetax movement, John Houston, is hoping farmers, residents and businesses will purchase a ‘koala’ and put them on display right across the district in a visual show of support. “We’re hoping this little friendly koala will be as widely seen across the district, and across the state, as the much-talked-about orange kelpie was during the lead up to the last election,” John said. “We’re hoping to flood the area with these little fellas. “The emergency services levy is something that affects us all, not just CFA volunteers, not just farmers, but everyone, one way or another – and
“We will continue lobbying the state government until a decision is made to scrap the tax or until the next election; whichever comes first.” A rally in Bendigo last weekend once again attracted a large number of participants. “We’re fighting for fairness and
not about making money, we’re about making sure we are all heard and that we get our message across loud and clear.” Already several hundred koalas have made their way to farms, businesses and homes across the state and John is hoping Warrnambool and surrounding
each,” John said. “We’re now working on establishing various distribution points but in the meantime people can give us a call to arrange collection.” John Houston can be contacted on 0438 654 244 or Leigh Harry 0429 302 056.
#SCRAP THETA X
Grassmere CFA’s John Houston with one of the koalas he is hoping will become a familiar sight across the western district.