A KOORALBYN couple out getting their daily exercise had the surprise of their lives Monday when a koala gave them a wave from a gum tree.
Lisa Saunders and her husband Allan spotted the koala while out enjoying their daily dose of fresh air and physical activity.
"Every day we go for a walk along the same path on Routley Drive so when we spotted a koala scurrying up a grey gum tree we rushed back home to grab our phones," she said.
"We came back and he was still there. When I started videoing I think he was probably just scratching his nose but it really does look like he's waving at me."
Ms Saunders said she was elated to see a koala in Kooralbyn.
"I knew there had been koala sightings near the Hitching Rail and on the golf course around the halfway house between the 9th and 16th holes," she said.
"We are both keen golfers but I have only ever seen photos and never spotted one myself."
Ms Saunders said she and her husband Allan had bought their home in Kooralbyn 16 years ago and had lived there happily until a family crisis forced them to return to the UK.
"We decided to rent the place out while we were away because we only thought we would be gone for a year or two," she said.
"We were gone for six years but how lucky we didn't sell our home because we are so lucky to be here during this pandemic.
"This is absolutely the best place to be if you have to be in lockdown. We haven't been into town for five weeks because we haven't needed to.
"Imagine being stuck on the Gold Coast during this."
Ms Saunders said they had returned to Australia in the new year and managed to both get jobs at the Ramada Resort's Lillies Restaurant.
"We were lucky enough to get jobs almost straight away but when the COVID-19 crisis happened we were stood down," she said.
"We are happy in each others' company and have plenty to do every day.
"We have done a lot of work in the garden and on our birthdays we got all dressed and posted our party videos. It was loads of fun even though it was just us."
