02 Apr 2025
Donation to Odonata funds Rock Wallaby project
RMCG is excited to announce our recent donation to the environmental charity Odonata Foundation is directly funding a project to build populations of the critically endangered Southern Brush-tailed Rock Wallaby.
RMCG’s partnership with environmental charity Odonata Foundation kicked off in 2024, with a $10,000 donation to preserve and protect endangered native Australian species. Seven months on, the donation has supported Odonata’s Southern Brush-tailed Rock Wallaby Project under their We Save Species Ecosystem Recovery Plan.
RMCG Associate Carl Larsen said the donation and ongoing partnership with Odonata is consistent with RMCG’s focus on creating positive change for society and the environment.
“Australia has the world’s worst mammal extinction rate, and we can’t just sit by and do nothing. We can always do more and what that looks like for us is being a Certified B Corporation and using our business for positive change,” Carl said.
“RMCG is excited to support Odonata in working towards rebuilding the Southern Brush-tailed Rock Wallaby population from 50 remaining in the wild, to 6,000 individuals across Odonata’s sanctuaries over the next 10 years.”
We Save Species Plan
RMCG’s support of Odonata will increase and stabilise native species population numbers – such as the Southern Brush-tailed Rock Wallaby – through a series of steps.
First, population numbers are carefully rebuilt before genetically distinct individuals are translocated to new sites, so they can establish multiple healthy populations across Victoria. This protects the species from the threat of fire, flood and genetic issues.
Funded work includes monitoring for genetic health and diversity by taking biopsies and microchipping the growing population of wallabies. Then in time, identifying the right ‘founders’ to start a population at identified new sanctuary sites with the right habitat for southern brush-tailed rock wallabies to thrive. Odonata continues to monitor the populations to ensure they are protected from predation, in good health and genetically strong.
Finally, Odonata works in collaboration with Traditional Owners to return once thriving native species back to their landscapes, so that ecosystems can recover and species can be protected for future generations to enjoy.
Environment team field trip
In April, RMCG’s Environment team will visit Mt Rothwell Sanctuary in Little river to see the southern brush-tailed rock wallaby program in action.
“This field trip is all about meaningful input beyond the monetary donation. Our staff will have the opportunity to see some of our impact on the ground and assist further by volunteering their time,” Carl explained.
“We’re actually out there getting our boots dirty.”
RMCG will also host a strategic discussion with Odonata at its Leadership Team meeting following the field trip.
“The important part of any partnership is that it’s ongoing,” Carl said. “We receive regular updates and meet with the Odonata team every 2-3 months to progress that collaboration and the partnership. We’re exploring with Odonata how we can work together on other projects going forward. That might include us contributing strategic, technical or evaluation skills to the Odonata team.
“What we’ve tried to do is be really strategic and targeted about where we can make the most change.”
In addition to Odonata, RMCG also supports WaterAid, a not-for-profit organisation providing clean water, toilets and sanitation to disadvantaged communities around the world.
Updates on our Mt Rothwell field trip will be available on RMCG’s LinkedIn page.
Images courtesy of Lucy Farmer.
