Description / Inspiration

WildNets (www.wildnets.com.au) is the sponsor of Crusader Koala. We love the synergy between Crusader Koala’s design and WildNets branding – there is even a flying fox on Crusader’s chest. It was a friendship meant to be.

Back in 2013, Crusader Koala resulted from a collaboration between Dale Leach, artist illustrator and Sea Acres Rainforest Centre in Port Macquarie.

Crusader Koala was designed to be the champion of threatened species in the endangered littoral (coastal) rainforests of the Macleay-Hastings area on NSW’s Mid North Coast. The masked Crusader Koala protects rainforest animals under the shelter of a living cape of lush subtropical rainforest.

Twelve of the thirty-one threatened species in the area’s littoral rainforests are represented. The Grey-headed Flying Fox and the Common Blossom Bat. The Red-legged Pademelon, the Spotted-tail Quoll, the Long-nosed Potoroo and the Eastern Pygmy Possum. The Powerful Owl, the Wompoo Fruit Dove and the Eastern Osprey. Stephen’s Banded Snake, the Green-thighed Frog and the Pale-headed Snake.

The trees and leaves on the cape and the fruits scattered in the background, represent the diversity of rainforest plants found in Sea Acres National Park. The Black Apple, White Beech, Bangalow Palm and Strangler Fig.

The fruits of the Tuckeroo, Elderberry Panax, Blue Lilly Pilly, Black Apple, Cheese Tree and the Cunjevoi.

Now Crusader Koala lives amongst the trees at WildNets Adventure Park in Guulabaa, Place of Koala in the Cowarra State Forest and joins ‘The Big Koala, Spirit of All Koalas’ the 2.5 metre sculpture on the Hello Koalas Sculpture Trail (www.hellokoalas.com).

The Big Koala, painted by local artist Pauline Roods, won Silver (2022) and Gold (2023) in the category for “Best Landmark Sculpture in Australia” in the Australian Street Art Awards.

Artist Biography

Dale Leach was born in Geelong, and grew up travelling between, Frankston and South East Queensland with her parents. After backpacking through Europe and America, visiting London, Paris and New York, she was determined to go to an art school and make art her career.

In 1982, Dale completed a Diploma of Art and Design (Painting) and Diploma of Education and became an art teacher and professional artist working in various parts of Australia.

Dale’s work is quirky, vibrantly colourist, narrative driven, usually drawn from personal experience and surroundings.

Location Info

WildNets Adventure Park won the Gold Award for ‘Tourism Attractions’ at the 2024 Port Macquarie Business Awards and the Excellence Award for ‘Specialised Tourism’ in the 2024 North Coast Regional Tourism Awards.