Koala P. Crossingsafe III on the Hello Koalas Trail

This public sculpture is one of more than 50 1 metre high koalas decorated by different artists to form part of the Hello Koala Trail in and around Port Macquarie.

His name is Koala P. Crossingsafe III. Such a significant name gives emphasis to the importance of the urban koalas within our community and the ideas in the design came from my observation of the life of these koalas.

The ‘P’ in Koala P. Crossingsafe III’s name is for Port Macquarie, although he answers to Percy. Percy’s desire is that his decoration forms a positive intention for the safe street crossing of all urban koalas.

Here’s a description of the design: Percy has leaf and flower tattoos on his arms and legs and a tree trunk/street crossing up his back, which ends in a protective gum leaf trident on his forehead. The sun also forms an overarching protective presence for Percy. He has a street crossing down his front with koala footprints on both crossings to symbolise Percy’s safe passage within his home range.

Percy lives by the sea, so on his lower back is the ocean, interspersed with front lawns, a typical pathway between home range trees. Also on his back is an urban street complete with sleeping koalas pooping on tin roofs, something I frequently, and happily, experience in my home.

Koala P Crossingsafe has now shortened his name to Percy Crossingsafe and moved to a new home at Sea Acres Nature Reserve where he forms part of the environmental selection of koalas.