It is with heavy hearts that the Friends of the Koala community mourns the passing of Vale Dr. Ros Irwin – Honorary Life Member, Tree of Famer, and tireless champion for wildlife and environmental advocacy. Ros passed away on Sunday, leaving behind an extraordinary legacy of care, conviction, and commitment to koalas, conservation, and the broader community.
A Legacy That Grew from Passion and Purpose
Ros’s relationship with Friends of the Koala began long before her formal membership. As a Lismore City Councillor from 1992 to 2008, she became our steadfast voice in local government – a determined and principled advocate for koalas and the environment. She was the councillor we could count on to understand, champion, and defend koala conservation with clarity and courage.
- Ros spent nearly eighteen years on Lismore City Council and became the first female mayor of Lismore, serving from 1997 to 1999!
- She completed a PhD studying ‘women leaders in government in five countries as she juggled university studies with her full-time work in the early 1990s.
- Additionally, Ros brought her academic background into her professional life, lecturing in social sciences at Southern Cross University for fifteen years before committing to koala conservation work.
When Ros and her husband Bill formally joined Friends of the Koala in late 2010, their deep commitment was immediately evident. Together, they immersed themselves in rescue, phone, and leaf collection roles. Yet, it was Ros’s leadership that would soon define a transformative era for the organisation.
Leadership with Vision and Tenacity
Elected to the Management Committee in 2012, Vice President in 2014, and President in 2017, Ros brought insight, energy, and unwavering focus to her roles. Under her leadership:
- 2017: Ros and Bill led the planning and development of the Burribi Education & Administration Centre, which opened in September that year. This became a vital hub for education, administration, and connection.
- 2019–2020: During the catastrophic Black Summer bushfires, Ros was on the frontlines – rescuing injured wildlife, including Ember, who was badly burned in Whiporie and later successfully rehabilitated and released.
- 2020: She spearheaded the process to upgrade the old care facility to hospital standard, culminating in the issuing of a hospital license in June 2020. Her determination in achieving this during one of the organisation’s most challenging times was nothing short of heroic.
- 2021: Ros helped celebrate Friends of the Koala’s 35th anniversary, where she was honoured with Honorary Life Membership – a tribute to her years of service, wisdom, and tenacity.
Her work also extended to infrastructure support for the Bushfire Recovery Nursery, enabling critical replanting and habitat restoration efforts.
“They’ve come down from their trees and just sat there because they can no longer climb and maintain themselves… We get a lot of koalas coming in that are simply malnourished, as well as dehydrated… It’s just constant, quite frankly. It’s a work of love, really, because that’s what drives people to do it.” Ros Irwin, KUNR.org – Australia’s Record Wildfires Are Catastrophic For Animals
In this video, Ros talks about the complete devastation of the 2019 NSW bushfires
A Friend, A Leader, A Force of Nature
Ros Irwin was more than a leader. She was an inspiration. Described by colleagues and friends as insightful, intelligent, visionary, and deeply compassionate, Ros never wavered in her pursuit of better outcomes for wildlife and the environment. She was direct when needed, reflective when called for, and always deeply committed to the mission of Friends of the Koala.
Her legacy lives on – in the trees we plant, the koalas we rescue, the lives we touch, and the community she helped build. To those of us who had the honour of working alongside her, Ros will always be remembered as a genuine Friend of the Koala – one who gave her all for both the animals and the people who care for them.
Long May Her Legacy Live On
To Bill and Ros’s loved ones, we offer our deepest condolences. The Friends of the Koala family stands with you in grief and in gratitude for a life so richly lived, and so generously shared.
Friends of the Koala Management Committee
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