A Marlborough couple awarded for helping to protect and recover the dwindling population of Bridled Nail-Tail Wallabies has gained help from CQU staff and students over several years.

CQU has helped facilitate community support for the project and has also carried out research, which now includes a unique search for immune genes to find out why these endangered wallabies are more 'hardy' than other wallaby species.

CQU's Glenys Kirkwood (centre) congratulates Peter Brooks and Tina Janssen at the awards ceremony

Tina Janssen and Peter Brooks have been presented with a Queensland Regional Achievers' Award in the Environment & Landcare category, for nurturing the animals at their Kial property over the past 4 years. (Background on the awards is at: http://www.awardsaustralia.com/RACA_qld.html )

Healthy wallabies have since been released on a property near Emerald after being rehabilitated at Kial. The couple are now in the process of setting up a captive breeding operation.

CQU's Dr Lauren Young has recently completed a project involving the Kial wallabies, via the Marsupial Immunology Research Group.

"Last year, we had an Honours student (Amy O'Brien) who did work on the first characterisation of immune tissues in the Bridled Nailtail Wallaby," Dr Young said.

"This year, I have a couple of Honours students working on immune genes of Bridled Nailtail Wallabies, from samples obtained in the early work with Tina, which is ongoing.

Dr Young, Head of the Department of Living Systems, said the CQU team started an association with Janelle Lowry (QPWS and EPA), performing blood analyses to assist with the diagnosis of parasite infections.

Photo courtesy At A Glance Pty. Ltd

"We are now working on discovery of immune genes in this endangered species (work that has not been undertaken in any marsupials).

"Bridled nailtail wallabies, although endangered, are thought to be more 'hardy' than other wallaby species and we are looking at the immune genes to see if we can find out why.

"Sabine Flenady, a student in my group who is applying for a PhD place and scholarship in the current round, completed her Honours recently (received a grade of First Class Honours) and presented her work in poster form at a recent international conference (COMBIO (International Society of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology - Sydney, September 2007)." 

CQU via the Office of Development chose to nominate Project Kial for the Regional Achievers' awards in recognition of the ground-breaking research being conducted at the University and the passion and dedication of the 2 people determined to make a difference to our endangered species.

Glenys Kirkwood from the Office of Development said Project Kial, part of AACE (Australian Animal Care & Education), is based at the private property of Tina Janssen and Peter Brooks near Marlborough.

"CQU was introduced to the rescue of the Bridled Nail Tail Wallabies via the Fitzroy Basin Elders back in 2005 and began taking tour groups to the property.

Photo courtesy At A Glance Pty. Ltd

"From these tours, the CQU Community Program was able to garner financial and physical support via donations of joey bags, cooking pots and blankets for volunteers and a stainless steel hospital table made and donated by Adnaught Sheet Metal Company.

"This allowed for the research work being done at CQU to be carried out under sterile conditions.

"Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service, Fitzroy Basin Association and Fitzroy Basin Elders and many other local people continue to support the work being done at Kial.

"Many overseas volunteers come to work on the property to enable them to get 'up close and personal with the real Australia'."

CQU is listed as a Project Partner for Project Kial. Details of Project Kial are at: www.aace.org.au

Peter Brooks and Tina Jansen with sponsor Lachlan Duff from Kleenheat Gas
Peter and Tina among the other award recipients