Thank you to our Orangutan Champions

Definition of champion (Oxford English Dictionary, 2002)

- "a person who argues or fights for a cause..."
- "strongly support the cause of..."

We really appreciate the effort people go to raise funds for orangutan conservation. This is especially true for our younger supporters, who give us hope for the future.

Please email us your fundraising or conservation success stories at adoptions@orangutans.com.au.

Here are some of our recent champions:

• Bianca Nichols (pictured left) describes herself as "an absolute animal lover". Having learnt of the threats the orangutans face, she decided something had to be done and organised an orange coloured dress day at her school, Mater Christi. The 15-year-old encouraged teachers and students to wear orange for a gold coin donation. 
  
  "Over all I think the day was a huge success. To add to the fun of the day, there was also an orange themed food and drink stall with ONLY palm oil free products. There were Sunkist cans, orange jelly, orange juice, carrot cake, iced orange cakes and muffins, sponge cakes, caramel cakes and orange lollies. Lots of people participated and donated and in total we raised $1268. I encourage others to start making a difference too. If other students arranged a fundraising event at their school, sporting clubs etc they can help make a difference for the Orangutans just like I did. I love Orangutans and hope that people can help support and save the species," Bianca said.

• The Scallywags Childcare Centre in Bathurst has some of our youngest orangutan champions in its care. Last year, a couple of the children donated their pocket money to help the baby orphaned orangutans. This year all the children have chimed in, producing and selling cards to raise $20.
  
  Our thanks to Trish Cowan who works at the centre and has fostered the children's awareness and enthusiasm through her own adoption of Ruthie.

• Birdwood High School in South Australia has its own "Save the Orangutans" student interest group, led by Lynton Vonow, which meets at lunchtime every few weeks. This year has been particularly active for the group with the screening of various orangutan documentaries, participation in a palm oil campaign and petition signing.
  On the fundraising front, the annual cake stall was again a very successful event raising a record $370 through the sale of spiders, cakes, muffins, slices and biscuits - all palm oil free.
  
  Lynton has also been integral in encouraging primary school students to become involved in writing letters to companies about their use of palm oil and in avoiding palm oil in the products they buy.
  
  

• R.A.N.G.A. (the Red and Nearly Ginger Association) held its Summer Ginge event in St Kilda at the end of February. Aaron Webb and Joel Cohen (founders of the group) organised a charity auction sourcing items from local businesses and friends as well as calling on Melbourne Zoo’s orangutan, Maimunah, to lend a hand with one of her artworks.  Maureen Klees (long time BOSA supporter) helped out yet again by donating a number of her paintings of baby orangutan faces.
  Aaron demonstrated his skills as an auctioneer managing to auction a used red brick for $100 and raising a total of just under $2,300. With our long orangutan toys proving a popular fashion accessory on the night, the grand total raised for BOSA from the evening was close to $2,500.
  Keep an eye out on the www.ranga.net.au for their next event! 
  

• Mr Evan Polymeneas (Studies of Societies Teacher) from Salisbury High School(Adelaide), taught his year nine students about the plight facing orangutans in Borneo due to oil palm plantation expansion. The students wanted to do some fundraising and organised a number of events including: a soccer tournament, uniform free day, a car wash and cookie and spyder stands. They raised an impressive $527.00.
  

• Ms Angela Woodman and her students from Cheltenham Secondary College (Victoria) raised enough money to adopt all three of our orangutans. "My geography class 7A took this on as an action project to follow on from our study of orangutans in Indonesia." said Ms Woodman. "They organised a casual clothes day for all year 7 to participate in. This raised the bulk of the money and the remainder was donated by the school SRC."

At the year 8 and 9 assembly this month, three student representatives (Laura Cummack, Zoe Barrile and Kelly Craw) were presented with the adoption certificates. "I read one of the letters from Malcolm Carson (BOSA President) out to the assembled students as background on the orangutan issue" said Ms Woodman.

• Ms Vera Turnbull (Visual Arts/Indonesian teacher) and her students from Geelong East Primary School (Victoria) have become tri adopters by adopting Nody, Ruthie and Dodo. In addition, they also donated close to $170 to BOSA. "As part of our Indonesian cultural program the children learn about the plight of endangered animals such as orangutans. After starting the Environment Club in 2006 the group decided that we would continue sponsoring orangutans annually. The children at GEPS absolutely love animals and really have a strong connection to both orangutans and Sumatran tigers." said Ms Turnbull.

"It is challenging for the students to come up with new fundraising ideas each year but the community has been very supportive." Ms Turnbull said that one of their most successful fundraisers was simply collecting 5 cent coins. Local Geelong artist and school nurse Ms Sally Ford is also involved. Ms Ford kindly drew and donated beautiful charcoal pictures of orangutans, tigers and other endangered species. These were given to the students as prizes last year.

"We have already started planning our fundraising ideas for 2010. We have a beautiful large painting of a green and golden bell frog that we will sell raffle tickets for and will have to brain storm for more exciting ideas" said Miss Turnbull. Ms Turnbull is a long standing "Orangutan Champion" and sponsored orangutans at her previous two schools.

 

• Ms Janelle Tuero, a life member of BOS and active fundraiser, held an orangutan awareness day in Picton (NSW) and raised $800 for Nyaru Menteng. She also made a similar contribution to the Centre for Orangutan Protection. Janelle then raised a further $250 from work colleagues and friends in December for the square metre project. In addition to this, Janelle collected numerous toys and other items for a container which was being sent to Nyaru Menteng. Janelle and three friends will be attending the "Beach to Bay" walk in March. Nell and friend Laurie will be taking turns at wearing an orangutan suit, so be sure to keep an eye out for them.

Thank you everyone for your fantastic efforts!

Click here to read about our previous Orangutan Champions:

• Aussie Dog
• Judith Eardley Save Wildlife
• Joan Pearson
• Sandie Morris

15 July 2010
Why should we protect the orangutan? It is a frequently asked question when lay-people, including businesspeople, discuss the need to protect orangutans, Asia's only great ape, which is greatly endangered. Read Article »

23 June 2010
If an orangutan blows a raspberry, smacks you on the side of your body or gives you a nip on the arm, don't worry. Read Article »

21 June 2010
Some New Zealand food companies are being slippery about whether they use palm oil, according to a Green Party survey.

6 June 2010
Borneo Orangutan Survival (BOS) Australia and its Indonesian counterpart have secured a 112,000 hectare site in Kalimantan, Indonesia for the release of rehabilitated orangutans.

27 May 2010
Indonesia will introduce a two-year moratorium on deforestation to help tackle climate change, the country's president has said. Read Article »

28 May 2010
United States congressman Earl Blumenauer has called on the Australian Government to legislate to ban illegal timber imports into Australia.

27 May 2010
Cash-strapped Indonesia remains committed to protection of its rainforests as part of the global initiative to reduce emissions from deforestation and forest degradation (REDD) Plus scheme, President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono says.

27 May 2010
Indonesia will honor palm oil companies' existing contract despite its pledge to suspend new concessions to clear the nation's natural forests and peat lands for two years, President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono says.