When four-year-old Sydney resident Olivia Johnston heard about the plight of koalas from the recent bushfires she immediately wanted to show her support.
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Along with her fellow pre-school friend and neighbour, Harvey, the pair set about hosting a cake stall at their local coffee shop.
The event raised $620 - an amount set to be doubled with a matching donation from Olivia's mum Danielle's workplace.
Olivia and Danielle presented a cheque to Port Macquarie Koala Hospital life member and volunteer Margaret Hearle on Sunday, March 15.
Mrs Hearle said the level of support from the community had been unbelievable.
She said it was wonderful to meet Olivia and explain the koala hospital's work to the four-year-old.
"It is wonderful to see community members providing this kind of support," she said.
"Everyone has been fantastic.
"Importantly, we are getting more local residents calling in with sightings, so it means that people are now more aware of the need to help our koala population survive."
Mrs Hearle said the koala hospital is currently nursing some 55 koalas.
Everyone wants to know that the koalas injured during the bushfires are doing well and will survive
- Margaret Hearle
"Everyone wants to know that the koalas injured during the bushfires are doing well and will survive," she added.
Danielle said talking to a four-year-old about the impacts the fires were having on koalas was a tough conversation.
"Particularly with someone like Olivia who has a really caring nature," she said.
"There were many stories on the news about koalas being injured or killed and we were constantly hearing the statistics about the situation.
"Harvey and Olivia decided they wanted to do something and we thought this was appropriate for four-year-olds.
"Harvey's mum, Laura Rushton, made the suggestion of holding a bake sale. So we put the idea to our local coffee shop and they immediately embraced the idea and supported us really well.
"On the day, lots of people bought items from the stall but others just made a donation," she said.
"A couple of hours later we had raised $620."
Danielle said Olivia had always been a big animal lover and the family had visited zoos and farms as often as they could.
"This has been a great way to explain to her what is happening; it has certainly resonated with her," she added.
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