Tanya Arentz is no stranger to tough situations. As a dedicated volunteer for Wires New England and a passionate koala rescuer, Tanya has seen her fair share of heartache and triumph. But this time, her fight is personal. Tanya, who has spent a year and a half helping rescue and rehabilitate koalas in her community, is now facing her own battle with breast cancer. However, she’s not letting it stop her from making a difference.
Tanya has always been committed to supporting koalas in need. She works closely with Wires New England, who rescue and care for sick, injured and orphaned wildlife in the New England area as well as providing ongoing community wildlife education. They work in partnership with hospitals like Friends of the Koala or Port Macquarie Koala Hospital to ensure the wildlife receive the critical care they need.
Tanya recalls looking after a mother and joey, who have been in and out of hospital numerous times.
“They’ve both spent lots of time at the hospitals in Lismore and Port Macquarie and Angelo, the joey, is not even twelve months old. He’s coming home today, but mum’s still in hospital,” she says.
“I’ve been personally called to 104 rescue calls in just 18 months all over the New England area. It’s a lot, but it’s needed. I’m so proud to be part of a team that makes a real impact.”
But Tanya’s dedication to koalas in need is not her only battle. Recently, she was diagnosed with breast cancer. This has been a challenging time for Tanya, but she has found strength in the support of her community.
When Tanya shared the news with the Friends of the Koala teams, the response was overwhelming. Many of her colleagues immediately offered to support her by colouring their hair as a sign of solidarity. What started as a caring gesture quickly grew into a full-blown fundraising event.
“I was meant to shave my head publicly on the day of the fundraiser,” Tanya says, “but my chemotherapy schedule was moved up, so I ended up doing the shave at home. We filmed it and shared it online, and it will be played during the event to keep the spirit of the day alive.”
You can find the video here.
The event will feature guided walks, a sausage sizzle, a guess the jellybean competition, and even the opportunity for attendees to colour or shave their own hair in support of the cause.
“What I really want people to take away from this event is of course, raising funds for the koalas, but I also want to raise awareness about breast cancer,” she says. “It’s so important for everyone to get checked and to support each other through tough times.”
For Tanya, the fundraiser has been a chance to channel her energy into something positive and meaningful.
“Rather than looking in the mirror at a bald head and seeing cancer, I want to see someone who has raised money for a cause that means so much to me. I’ll look at myself with a smile, knowing that I made a difference.”
As Tanya prepares to take the long-awaited joey under her wing later today, she reflects on the support she’s received – not only from her human community. “When I started rescuing koalas, I was dealing with anxiety and struggles of my own,” she shares. “Now, I’m not only helping these incredible animals, but they’ve helped me too. The journey has transformed me from someone who was too anxious to leave the house into someone who can run a community fundraiser and share my story with others.”
Tanya’s message for anyone facing their own challenges is simple: “Step out of your comfort zone. Make it count.”
Her fundraiser has already brought together a community of people supporting a cause bigger than any one individual. The event will continue to raise awareness and ensure that the work of rescuing and rehabilitating koalas continues.
The fundraiser will be held at 10am on the 16th of May 2025 at the Warialda Koala Wildlife Reserve.
All proceeds go to Friends of the Koala, supporting the Lismore Koala Hospital.
If you’d like to get involved but can’t make it on the day, another way to support Tanya is to donate to her GoFundMe: https://www.gofundme.com/f/cut-or-colour-for-koalas.
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