More about our supporters

 

Hydro Tasmania joins the race

The four runners from the Hydro Tasmania team, which placed second overall in the City to Casino 11km run, have donated their $500 corporate spot prize winnings to the Save the Tasmanian Devil Program. Chris Kossmann, one of the four runners in the Hydro Tasmania team, said they wanted their unexpected windfall to help a unique Tassie icon. Bridget Baynes accepted the cheque on behalf of the Tasmanian Devil Appeal. Bridget is an Honours student at the University of Tasmania, working on devil research. Her project is looking at the home range of Tasmanian devils, the size and shape of their individual territories, and their habitat. Public interest and support goes a long way – not only in funding research, but also to illustrate that members of the business community and general public consider the loss of the devil unacceptable. Research grants and scholarships of more than $100,000 have already been awarded from Appeal funds.

A marathon effort from Singaporean students

The Tasmanian University Union Singapore Students Society has donated $1,000 toward the Save the Tasmanian Devil Program – and there’s more to come! The Society’s president, Saleh Omar BinTalib, said that one of the key aims of the society is to give back to the Tasmanian community that has been so kind and welcoming. Supporting the Tasmanian devil was their unanimous choice. The cheque was presented in August 2007, at the Society’s annual dinner in celebration of Singapore’s National Day. Members of the Society had dug deep for the devil at a fundraising dinner earlier in the year. Members of the society will also be running the Singapore Marathon toward the end of 2007. They hope their efforts will raise even more funds, as well as awareness for the Tasmanian Devil Appeal.

A book to sink your teeth into

A portion of the royalties from the children’s picture book Ruby Roars, published in November 2007, are being donated to the Save the Tasmanian Devil Program. This charming romp, written by Margaret Wild and illustrated by Kerry Argent, is a warm and bouncy story about finding your own voice. “I had long been aware of this awful disease which is threatening to wipe out the Tasmanian devil,” explained Kerry Argent, who also combined with Margaret to produce Miss Lily’s Fabulous Pink Feather Boa. “I also felt the devil to be a misunderstood animal. They really are all noise and no action. They’re not savage hunters. So I suggested the character should be a devil.” Ruby Roars is published by Allen and Unwin, and has a RRP of $24.95.

Devil's plight takes flight

American Airlines in-flight magazine American Way included an article on the Tasmanian devil and the threat of Devil Facial Tumour Disease in its mid-December edition, distributed during the highly-travelled holiday season.

Where the Devil Are You?

The Australian Association of Practice Managers (AAPM) raised more than $2,622 for the Save the Tasmanian Devil Program at their four-day conference, held in Hobart in October, 2007.The theme of the conference was ‘Where the Devil Are You?’. Money was raised via registrations to the conference, as well as from general donations. The AAPM Conference is a chance for health care professionals to catch up with their colleagues, taking a break from the day to day challenges of managing patients, equipment and staff.

Support from Cripps NuBake, Blackmores and Deloittes

Cripps NuBake raised $20,000 for the Tasmanian Devil Appeal after donating money from every loaf of bread they sold.

Blackmores sponsored a car in the Targa Tasmania Race, launching the car in Sydney, which then raised $14,500 in donations as it drove through three states to Hobart.

Deloittes donated $5,000 from their staff fundraising to help save the Tassie devil through the Deloittes Foundation.

Australian Air Express's devilish cargo

Australian air Express (AaE) is once again flying Tassie devils to safety on mainland Australia in an effort to save them from extinction due to Devil Facial Tumour Disease. AaE is coming to the devil's rescue and is about to airlift 23 healthy youngsters from western Tasmania to join the breeding population on the Australian mainland. Nearly a year ago, in a special exercise, AaE transported 48 devils from Tasmania to four zoos on the mainland to establish captive breeding populations. After a period in quarantine, the first shipment of devils was freighted in November 2006, in 14 specially designed 'devil boxes'. A second shipment left Tasmania in January 2007. Devils were sent to Currumbin in Queensland, Gosford in New South Wales, Healesville in Victoria and Monarto in South Australia. The 48 devils have settled in to their new homes and produced 14 more devils this year. The aim of this mainland "insurance" population is to maintain a diverse, healthy population of Tasmanian devils away from the disease that threatens them which, if ever needed, could be used to re-establish Tasmanian devils in the wild in Tasmania.

QANTAS - Spirit of the Environment

Qantas is helping save the iconic Tassie devil from extinction. They funded and produced nine Tasmanian devil sculpted donation receptacles, currently located at airports on the mainland and in Tasmania, at Visitor Centres at four Tasmanian National Parks and the Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery. In the first three months the sculptures captured the attention of locals and visitors, collecting almost $10,000, which will go towards supporting management actions and scientific research.

Qantas also recognises that research is vital to fighting the disease, which is why they backed their commitment to Tassie devils by donating $30,000 to establish the QANTAS Tasmanian Devil Research and QANTAS Tasmanian Devil Honours Scholarships at the University of Tasmania.

With the help of Australian Air Express, Qantas also paid the freight of the two shipments of the Tasmanian devil captive breeding "insurance" population, sent to four wildlife parks on mainland Australia in December 2006. The 47 Tasmanian devils in "Project Ark" could play an important role, if ever needed, in helping to re-establish healthy populations in Tasmania.

Qantas’s commitment to our program was extended further in March 2007, when Qantas Flight Operations donated $10,000 to the Tasmanian Devil Foundation. Each year, Flight Operations raise money for a nominated charity by selling fleet caps.

TAZ is helping his mates

Taz, the Tasmanian devil made famous as a character in the Bugs Bunny and other Warner Bros. cartoons, has joined the effort to save his mates! You can buy a special edition of Taz from www.discovertasmania.com with all funds raised to go to the Tasmanian Devil Appeal, managed by the University of Tasmania Foundation.

Taz stands at 51cm tall and 45cm wide, and carries a Tasmanian passport. Packed in a cardboard carton, ready to be posted around the world, Taz costs $AUD49.99, plus delivery.

Overwhelming public support

The public support for the Tasmanian devil disease team continues to be overwhelming. Andrea Harris, a local Tasmanian artist who was the driving force behind a successful auction of art and craftwork at the Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery in December 2006, recently presented the Manager of the Devil Facial Tumour Disease program with a cheque for $2,427. This sum was raised by sales of donated items, ranging from evening bags and silver jewellery to a watertank and plaster gnomes.

More recently, Renate Von Metzler, a nature tourism operator visiting Freycinet Adventures in Tasmania and guided by Tom Ralph, donated $2,000 to the Devil Facial Tumour Disease Program.

Hobart Soroptimists sizzle for Tassie devil research

Joann Kelly from the Hobart Soroptimist Society reports that a sausage sizzle held on 1 June 2007 raised $368 for the Tassie Devil Appeal.

The Society is planning another sausage sizzle at the end of September to raise more funds. Joann's motto is "You only fail if you give up".

A devilish tale

Tasmanian author Alice Hansen felt so strongly about the plight of the Tasmanian devil that she has written and produced the children’s picture book, A Devilish Tale, and pledged $3,000 from sales of the book to the Tasmanian Devil Appeal through the University of Tasmania. The book follows the adventures of Nevil the Tassie devil, who after falling asleep, is separated from his parents. Although the book is very visual, there is a strong educational aspect too – with information about the Tasmanian devil's social organisation and habits.