EVEREST CLIMB TO CONSERVE BILBIES

Anna Hartley 4th July 2013

 

Bilby in hand, Pasang Tenzig and Frank McCarthy reminisced about the strange way in which they had met.

Pasang Tenzig, son of Mt Everest climber Tashi Tenzig, was at Ipswich Nature Centre in Queen’s Park yesterday catching up with old friend and co-founder of the ‘Save the Bilby Fund’ Frank Manthey.

Mr Tenzig was 8 years old when he asked his father to take a soft toy bilby with him to the top of Mt Everest in order to promote protection of the endangered native animal.

When Mr Manthey heard of the young boy's actions he said he just had to meet him.

“I first heard of Pasang’s story while reading his father’s book and I couldn’t believe it,” he said.

“It takes a special person for someone as young as that to want to conserve what we’ve got here.”

The pair met at a volunteer expo in Sydney and have been firm friends ever since.

“It has been great seeing him again,” Mr Manthey said.

Now 22, Mr Tenzig still has an affinity with animals and is current studying marine biology.

“I love bilbies, still do,’ he said.

“I hope to continue to raise awareness for all Australian native animals.”

He believes everyone can play a part in preserving the nation’s endangered species.

“Anyone can help look after our native animals, endangered species like the bilby need our support,” he said.

Both Mr Tenzig and Mr Manthey hope the bilby will become the ambassador for all endangered species.

“The bilby is a beautiful animal, and is something worth protecting,” Mr Manthey said.

Mr Tenzig plans to continue to support the conservation of native Australian wildlife while researching the effects of climate change on the Great Barrier Reef later in the year.

 

Strangers Band Together to Help Local Family

Anna Hartley 3rd July 2013

MOTHER of six Melanie Rochester says her faith in humanity has been restored this week when a group of strangers helped her move from her Bundamba home after a shock asbestos discovery.

Jody Sedgwick, close friend of Ms Rochester’s, put out a plea for help on Ipswich community Facebook page ‘City Watch’, and was astonished by the offers of assistance.

“The response has been amazing, the volunteers went out there today and helped her and they’re doing it tomorrow as well,” Ms Sedgwick said.

“Mel is a beautiful person and she has six children, one with special needs I’m just glad I could help her.”

Ms Rochester says the amount of community support she has received has been overwhelming.

“I am a bit shocked and amazed all at the same time,” she said.

“It’s not often that people will help strangers these days.”

According to Ms Rochester the help of volunteers has been a huge relief for her and her family.

“I have one autistic son, James, and change is not that good for him, so this has made the moving much less dramatic for him.”

Forklift operator Joshua Stacpoole heard about Ms Rochester’s situation when his wife showed him the Facebook post.

“We’ve got six kids ourselves so we know how hard it can be to move.”

“I did four and a half hours yesterday and then had to work a nightshift and we’ll do the same again today,” he said.

“It would be nice to see more things like this happening in Ipswich to show that there are people out there who are willing to help people who deserve it.”

Ms Rochester also hopes to see more displays of community spirit like the one she has experienced.

“It would be great if communities could band together again and look after each other, it would make the world a better place,” she said.