Council Executives

District 1: Northern Region

Cape York / Dry Tropics / Gulf

Alison James

Trinity Beach QLD.

Phone: 0497 280 514   (click to call)

I’m originally from England and have been living in FNQ for 13 years now. I became involved in wildlife rescue and rehabilitation after answering an ad on Facebook for assistance feeding joeys following bushfires down south, so consider myself a novice in the wildlife rehab world. I immediately became hooked and completed a carers course that same day and shortly thereafter a rescue course (specialising in macropods). I’ve since had experience with other species including Possums, Bandicoots and Melomys, although if i’m honest macropods have my heart.

I am a current member of two local wildlife groups and hold an executive committee position for one of the groups.

Please reach out if there’s anything I can help with and although I may not have the answers myself QWRC has many resources available to assist.

District 2: Northern Region

Wet Tropics / Cairns Marine

Connie Pinson- [Secretary]

Cow Bay Qld.

Phone: 07 40989056   (click to call)

I live in the Daintree and have been working with wildlife since 2000 , starting out originally in Mid North Coast NSW with Wires.
I predominantly work with Bats and Flying-foxes, including presenting Bat Training throughout Australia.
I am also trained and experienced with Birds and Small Mammals (mainly Bandicoots and Melomys) and have some limited experience with Possums.

I have previously been both President and Vice President in various Wildlife Groups.
In my spare time, my husband and I run a business called Daintree Life where we conduct rainforest revegetation work in the Daintree. Since our inception in 2018 we have planted over 25,00 trees (to September 2024) – expanding wildlife habitat. For all carers one of the hardest things about getting animals into care is being able to release them with the knowledge that they can be returned to the wild with sufficient habitat to sustain them.

I am also an avid photographer, with a strong interest in Wildlife and Nature photography.

I hope as the District Rep for Far North Qld, to be able to be a conduit for QWRC Wildlife members/Carers in this area and would like to encourage all members from the area to feel free to contact me for help.

District 3: Northern Region

Savannah / Townsville Marine

Kym Chiesa

Townsville

Phone: 0417 211 918 (click to call)

I found myself caring for wildlife after retiring from a 30 year career in the Australian Army and have now completed formal training for many species. Whilst predominantly a macropod carer, I also care for other species. I have always been passionate about the welfare of animals and have been a volunteer across several animal welfare organisations in the past, such as the RSPCA. I have also been involved in the training of therapy animals. Whilst my training activities with therapy animals has been scaled back, I still make regular visits to aged care facilities with therapy animals, as they bring great joy to our more senior members of the community.

I have previously been a member of a wildlife group including holding an executive committee position and now together with my husband Steve, who is also a qualified wildlife carer, operate a private sanctuary under our individual permit. We have a 20 acre property in Nome, just south of Townsville. We moved to this property in late 2022 with the intent of utilising all the land and facilities for wildlife rescue, rehabilitation and release. We now find ourselves also rescuing farm animals who are in need of a home for life. Our sanctuary has grown much larger than ever anticipated and Steve has had to build more macropod pens due to the number of macropods requiring care and finding their way to our gates by both other carers and very caring members of the public. We also assist local wildlife groups and carers who posses individual permits, with the staging and final release of wildlife they have had in their care.

We get very little spare time, but when we do, we love spending it with our 2 beautiful grand daughters and teaching them about the animals we have in care. Children hold the keys to the security of our wildlife into the future and relationships with wildlife formed whilst young will amount to great ambassadors for their safety into the future. This belief has lead me to do educational presentations to provide information to our younger members of the community.

Supporting each other through our caring journey is the catalyst to creating an environment that provides the opportunity for all members to feel equal. Every member has knowledge that they bring to the table and should feel valued and c respected. If I can be of any assistance to any carer or member, I would be only too happy to do so. None of us has all the knowledge, so if I don’t have an immediate answer to your question, I will endeavour to find out. QWRC has also provided each District Representative with Resource Manuals to assist with the research of information you may require. Please do not hesitate to make contact with me if I can be of assistance in any way.

District 4: Central Region

Mackay / Whitsunday

Position Vacant

District 5 Central Region

Capricorn / Gladstone

Janet Irvine – [Treasurer – Membership Secretary]

Rosedale Qld.

Phone: 0411 254 661 (click to call)
email: janet-irvine@hotmail.com (click to email)

The day my life changed in becoming a wildlife carer is the day I stumbled across Ipswich Koala Protection Society (IKPS) Members at a fundraiser at Redbank Plaza more then 25 years ago. I knew then that wildlife would play a major part in my life, I instantly signed up as volunteer with IKPS and Moggill Koala hospital, helping to care for injured and sick Koalas. 
It didn’t take long before I was rescuing and caring for a variety of native animals with IKPS, such as Brushtailed Possums, Ringtailed Possums, Gliders, Lizards, Birds, Kangaroos, Wallabies and Koalas. 
I moved to Gladstone in 2008 and have continued rescuing and caring for Wildlife with both my individual koala permit and eventually joining Gladstone Wildlife. I now focus mainly on caring for the Macropod species, and with the advantage of sufficient safe land, I am able to raise and release from my home. Over the years I’ve raised and released many macropods and have offered to help other carers with a safe release site. The best advice for myself, is each animal that comes into care, is different from the last one, try and keep it simple “KISS”, is the best steps to follow. They are all so fragile and special to Australia.
As the District Rep for District 5 Capricorn / Gladstone Central Region, I offer my help to any Wildlife Carer needing advice or even a shoulder to lean on in this harsh caring environment. Please feel free to contact me to discuss any concerns by phone or email.  

District 6: Central Region

Longreach

Kim Palmer – [Vice Chairperson]

Muttaburra Qld.

Phone: 0436 366 452 (click to call)
I have lived in Muttaburra, part of Barcaldine Regional Council, for over 15 years. I have, along with my husband, been caring for animals and birds both here and in North Brisbane for over 20 years. I feel district 6 will benefit from having a representative who can voice the concerns of members and carers in our remote area.

District 7: Southern Region

Wide Bay Burnett / Great Sandy

Linda Karlsen

Avoca QLD

Phone: 0412 665 424 (click to call)
I have been heavily involved with wildlife and conservation since I was a child when I started a branch of the Gould League at my primary school in 1976. My love of nature and our unique fauna and flora led me to joining an infant organisation in 1988 called WIRES. I joined the Blue Mountains branch as a snake catcher and was soon also on the committee helping out in various roles. In 1992 I joined FAWNA in Port Macquarie and again, served on the committee in various roles.

I then joined a travelling snake and crocodile show and travelled the east coast doing shows at shopping centres, country shows and schools. This led to a university degree in environmental management with a major in wildlife tourism.

I have rescued on and off since then and when I moved to Bundaberg in 2018 I joined up with a local group of women who were rescuing. This led to the formation of Bundy Wildlife Rescue, of which I am president. I no longer catch venomous snakes as advancing age and creaking bones do not lend themselves to ‘playing’ with venomous reptiles. My great loves are bats and birds of prey but I rescue most species and help out where needed.
I have always been a firm believer in the power of education. It is only through teaching and sharing our love, the carers’ love, of all things wildlife, that we can hope to educate the public about the vital work we do and get them on board with us.

I am always available to anyone in my district who wants to have a chat about any issues, make suggestions or have any other matters to discuss.

District 8 Southern Region

South West

Lea Macken – [Chairperson]

Chairperson

Hungerford Qld.

Phone: 0428 437 984 (limited service) (click to call)

District 9 Southern Region

Toowoomba

Terise Hungerford

Dalby Qld.

Phone: 0448 814 882 (click to call)

My first memories of caring for macropods was in my early pre teen years. Many years ago! Bex powder bottles used for formula and half the linen cupboard keeping the joeys warm hanging around the No.7 kitchen wood stove. I have lived within District 9 Toowoomba for the majority of my life.

As the representative for the district I hope to build a rapport with members to establish shared concerns and aim to improve standards and outcomes of our native wildlife rehabilitation and release throughout Queensland.

I hope members will engage with me by contacting me, allow me to advocate on their behalf as a Councillor and the collaborative climate the committee is founded on in representing wildlife rehabilitators.

District 9 Toowoomba members can email me at wildlifedalby@gmail.com.
I look forward to hearing from you!

District 10: Southern Region

Sunshine Coast / Southern Marine

Glendell Appleford

Wivenhoe Pocket Qld.

Phone: 0413 453 722 (click to call)

I became a registered wildlife carer ten years ago after completing a Wildlife Conservation Course. I had promised myself that once I left my nursing career, I would direct my activities towards conservation and wildlife management. I am currently a member of the Ipswich Koala Protection Society, S.W.A.G (Student Wildlife Association Gatton), W.P.S.Q. (Wildlife Preservation Society of Queensland) and an Honorary Park Ranger with Ipswich City Council.

As a generalist wildlife carer, I have great pleasure in caring for all our creatures, great and small from the tiniest feathertail glider which I rescued and raised from five grams through to the big kangaroos. I am also passionate about the birds and bats in my belfry as well. My greatest pleasure is being able to release all of these beautiful creatures back to their natural habitat. However, my greatest sadness is that their habitat is disappearing at an alarming rate. This is why I believe that we need to stay acutely aware of what is happening and to try to ensure that there will be suitable habitats and management of our wildlife for future generations. How privileged we are to share our lives with such unique wildlife.

I am available to discuss any areas of concern that wildlife rehabilitators encounter either by telephone, email or ‘snail mail.’ I look forward to hearing from you.

District 11: Southern Region

South East / Moreton Bay

Lana Field

Brisbane Qld.

Phone: 0412 036 655 (click to call)

Positions

Chairperson – Lea Macken

Phone: 0428 437 984 (click to call)

Vice Chairperson – Kim Palmer

Phone: 0436 366 452 (click to call)

Secretary – Connie Pinson

Phone: 07 40 989 056 (click to call)

Treasurer – Janet Irvine

Phone: 0411 254 661 (click to call)

Membership Secretary – Janet Irvine

Phone: 0411 254 661 (click to call)

Trustees

Queensland Wildlife Rehabilitation Council

Glendell Appleford

Annie Saunders