Conservation can appear to be a complex area, the domain of environmentalists, or at the very least adults, but Elektra Mcmillan is proving you’re never too young to make a difference.
Inspired by the article “Action to conserve koalas” she read in Jimboomba Times and a recent visit to the Daisy Hill Koala Park, the 11 year old Hills International College student has taken up the challenge of doing her bit to help conserve Australia’s keynote species.
“When I went to the Daisy Hill Koala Centre my mum and I found a brochure about how you can save koalas by planting eucalyptus trees for free at your school and then harvesting the leaves off of the trees when they are fully grown, which takes two to three years,” Elektra said.
“After we harvest all the leaves we are going to take them to the koala hospitals and the Daisy Hill Koala Centre so the sick and orphaned koalas can eat them.”
Elektra has lived in Jimboomba her whole life. When she isn’t working at her education or contemplating her contribution to an environmentally sustainable future for herself and her peers, she enjoys swimming and playing handball with her friends.
The young eco-warrior said when she leaves school she wants to become a marine biologist.
But in the meantime Elektra has set a goal to plant 50 to 200 eucalyptus trees, and she is calling on the community for support.
“I was thinking that we could plant the trees on national tree day, which is July 31 but it will depend on the help I get from the koala centre and the local community, we will need people from the community to help plant the trees,” she said.
“We are hoping the Logan City Council will help us out too.
“I feel passionately about saving koalas because if we don't look out and care for koalas one day they will become extinct and the koala numbers are already starting to drop.”
Anyone wanting to assist Elektra with her dream by offering tree planting services or land whereon the trees can be planted can email her at 2400@hills.qld.edu.au.