Kangaroo's birthday to be celebrated

An eastern grey kangaroo that was hand reared by a Umina family will celebrate his third birthday at Calga Springs Sanctuary on World Environment Day on Saturday, June 5.

The Umina family found him as a "pinky" in his dead mother's pouch down in the Snowy Mountains area and brought him back to the Coast to raise in 2001.

At around 10 months old, they realised he needed to be in a larger and safer environment and took him to the Sanctuary where he could live out his life safely

"He would have perished without their intervention," said Rae Fiechter, secretary of Friends of Calga Springs Sanctuary.

"It is not known if he would survive in the wild due to his early contact with humans.

"He leads a very comfortable existence where he is."

Mr Fiechter said the kangaroo was named Rodney and was a wonderful character who thought he was human.

"He snoozes under a desk in the air-conditioned office to escape the heat of the day.

"Rodney is very laid back and comfortable with people as he was hand reared from such a young age.

"He is a favourite with sanctuary staff and visitors alike," he said.

The Friends group will hold a party for the kangaroo on Sunday, June 6, at the sanctuary, starting at 10.30am.

Activities for the day will include a colouring competition, birthday hat making, face painting, storytelling by Cilla the Possum Lady and games.

There will be a sausage sizzle and cafe meals available.

The event will be a fundraiser for Friends of Calga Springs Sanctuary's "Bringing Back the Bettongs" project.

Sanctuary entry fee includes a 90-minute easy-paced guided walk.

With inquiries, phone: 4375 1100 or email calgafriends@hotmail.com.

Press release, May 13 Rae Fiechter, Friends of Calga Springs Sanctuary