Celebrating our incredible volunteers: Ditto and Anni

For over five years, Anne Ditton (fondly known as Ditto) and Anni Yaringa have been dedicated volunteers at Koala Conservation Australia (KCA) and the Koala Hospital in Port Macquarie. Their unwavering commitment to rescuing and caring for koalas, educating the community, and driving sustainable initiatives has left a lasting impact on our conservation efforts.

A Journey of Dedication

Anne (Ditto) and Anni first joined KCA in October 2019 as koala carers, quickly immersing themselves in the important work of rehabilitating and protecting our beloved marsupials. Their passion led them to become koala rescuers in March 2020, and since then, they have successfully rescued over 130 koalas. Their dedication extended to manning the 24-hour rescue hotline on weekends, ensuring distressed koalas received immediate help.

Ditto took on further leadership roles, becoming a Team Leader in August 2021, overseeing both the Tuesday and Sunday morning teams. Meanwhile, during the COVID-19 lockdowns, Anni dedicated herself to full-time koala care, stepping in whenever needed to support the team.

Their expertise also extended to the Wild Koala Breeding Program at Guulabaa, where they have worked as volunteers since November 2023. While Anni has since stepped back to focus on teaching at TAFE, Ditto continues her work on Thursday mornings in the Exhibit Yards for the Wild Koala Breeding Program at Guulabaa - Place of Koala.

Educating and Inspiring the Community

Beyond their hands-on work with koalas, Ditto played a crucial role in community education. From February 2021 to November 2022, she served as the Education Coordinator, managing visitor engagement, organising guided tours, and delivering educational presentations to schools and community groups. Her work helped spread awareness about koala conservation and inspired countless individuals to take action.

Driving Sustainability Through Return & Earn

One of Ditto and Anni’s most impactful contributions has been their efforts in sustainability through the Return & Earn initiative. Ditto’s vision led to the organisation of an art competition in January 2020 for local schools, with the winning designs adorning recycling bins for drink containers. These beautifully decorated bins were placed at the Koala Hospital and Wild Nets at Guulabaa in 2024, encouraging visitors to recycle and support conservation.

Their dedication to the program doesn’t stop there. They have worked tirelessly to collect drink containers from the public at Wild Nets, staff and volunteers at the Koala Hospital, TAFE students, and even members of CHDBC. Their efforts extend to large-scale sporting events such as Ironman Port Macquarie competitions and Touch Footy championships, ensuring every container counts toward conservation efforts.

KCA officially became a Donor Partner on the TOMRA app in February 2021, allowing community members to donate their Return & Earn refunds directly to support koala conservation. Their commitment to this initiative was recognised when they won the 2021 Sustainable Communities (Return and Earn Litter Prevention) Tidy Towns Award in March 2022, along with a $3,000 prize that further fuelled conservation projects.

A Legacy of Passion and Impact

Anne Ditton and Anni Yaringa’s tireless contributions have helped shape the success of KCA and the Koala Hospital, from hands-on rescue and care to community engagement and environmental sustainability. Their passion, leadership, and innovative thinking continue to make a profound difference in the lives of koalas and the people who love them.

We extend our deepest gratitude to Ditto and Anni for their invaluable efforts over the years. Their work stands as a shining example of how dedicated individuals can create real and lasting change for wildlife conservation.

Thank you, Ditto and Anni!