Queensland’s Cutest Babies Benefit From Heritage Grant

From the Princess Theatre in Woolloongabba to the Criterion Hotel in Warwick, 19 of Queensland’s heritage-listed landmarks received funding support for much-needed conservation work, with grants of up to $50,000 each.

Now, from the title of the grant to the example places listed, you wouldn’t expect a wallaby to fit in. But out in Forrest Beach, one woman is preserving heritage one “pouch potato” at a time.

Tracey Stoddart is a qualified macropod carer who raises orphaned kangaroos and wallabies until they are strong enough to return to the wild. Tracey applied for the grant and was successful in securing a total of $7,000, supporting the joeys in her care, which represent a quieter but equally important form of heritage preservation.

The funding helped improve her macropod enclosure with new fencing, shade cloth and irrigation, as well as assist with the cost of specialised formula used to raise joeys. She was allocated $3,000 in Round 7 and $4,000 in Round 8 under the Wildlife Carers Assistance category.

“I got water actually pumped and plumbed into my enclosure from the house, which saved me having to go backwards and forwards about six or seven times a day with watering cans to change water. So now I’ve got pressure and water in there, which is fantastic. It also helps me get food for my animals, which is very expensive, and I go through lots of it because I have a lot of animals,” said Tracey.

At present, her backyard nursery is home to a small mob of joeys at different stages of development.

“At the moment I have nine animals: four eastern greys, three red kangaroos and two ring-tailed wallabies. They come to me in all conditions, too.” She remarked, saying that not all rescues are hairless pinkies, “but they all need care and love,” she said.

Tracey works largely independently under her own wildlife permit, though she maintains connections with local rescue networks.

As an advocate for native wildlife, Tracey is also a proud member of the Hinchinbrook Wildlife Support group on Facebook and a former member of NQ Wildlife Care. Through her efforts as a surrogate mother to a mob of macropods, she is helping keep heritage and history alive and hopping for the next generation to enjoy and love.

“I take them in. I get them from all over. I’m with a couple of wildlife groups, but mainly I work on my own permit, under my own service. I specialise in macropods, especially the larger species,” said Tracey.

While she focuses on larger red and eastern grey kangaroos, Tracey admits she has a soft spot for ring-tailed wallabies, describing them as “exquisite and divine” little creatures that she occasionally takes on from time to time when she doesn’t have too many of the larger species in her care.

Minister for the Environment and Tourism Andrew Powell said preserving Queensland’s heritage remained a priority for the Government.

“Queensland’s heritage-listed places tell the story of our state; they are precious pieces of our past that give us a glimpse into the lives and times of those who came before us,” Minister Powell said.

“The Government is conserving these heritage assets because it is important for Queenslanders and creates opportunities for locals and visitors seeking enriching experiences that connect them with our history.”

While the grant program often focuses on historic buildings and landmarks, Tracey’s work highlights another side of heritage, the native wildlife that has shaped Australia’s identity for thousands of years.

With upgraded facilities and consistent care, Tracey’s joeys will eventually leave the safety of their interim nursery and return to the wild, helping to preserve a small but vital part of Australia’s living heritage.

Heritage doesn’t always come in the form of brick and mortar. Sometimes it is a fuzzy, floppy-eared joey — living heritage that is central to the Queensland and broader Australian way of life — nurtured by carers like Tracey in their own backyards.

The improvements funded by the grant help protect this living heritage, which has been part of Australia for millions of years, ensuring it keeps bounding forward.

Caption POUCHES: The nine joeys currently in Tracey’s care, all tucked up in handmade pouches, ready for their afternoon naps. Photo credit: Victoria Velton

Caption TRACEY: Tracey Stoddart holding one of her favourite little ‘pouch potatoes’, a ring-tailed wallaby. Photo credit: Victoria Velton

Caption ENCLOSURE: The grant funds enabled Tracey to upgrade and improve her rehabilitation enclosure, including features like running water and shade cloth installations. Photo credit: Victoria Velton

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