ELYSE KNOWLES MARIE CLAIRE 2020 - FEB COVER

I received a very exciting call from my manager not long ago while I was camping up at Double Island Point (which is amazing by the way & an absolute must if you have not yet been!!). She'd been contacted by the team at Marie Claire who called to offer me a very special opportunity. Not only were they asking me to be on their March cover, they were also asking me to bring awareness to an extremely important organisation - the Currumbin Wildlife Hospital ... who have been a team of absolute angels during this shocking fire season in Australia. We also must remember that the current droughts are causing animals to go without water … the trauma to our country at the moment is beyond words.

Being invited to be on the cover is one thing ... but the chance to be a part of something bigger than myself & bigger than my career is something on a whole new level. There is simply nothing more important at the moment than putting the Australian people & our land first, and this includes the millions of vulnerable animals at risk of losing their homes & their lives (if they haven't already). It is a shocking fact, but an estimated 1.25billion native animals have been lost since the fires started to burn. This includes koalas, kangaroos, wallabies, wombats, echidnas and more. Approximately 8,400 koalas in NSW alone may have lost their lives ... and these numbers are only rising. It breaks my heart.

Thank god for amazing organisations such as the Currumbin Wildlife Hospital who exist to care for these sick little guys. With 120 current volunteers - this place has a beating heart stronger than you could ever imagine. The staff pour everything they have into reviving these animals, providing them food, shelter and simply TLC to help reduce the stress levels of the affected animals. As you can imagine, many of the resident animals are traumatised by the recent events & they're in pain.

I visited Currumbin with my mum a few months ago & my mind was blown! We were able to see just how talented the staff are. To learn more about this incredible place & get a front row look into the hospital, check out my earlier blog. If this doesn't inspire you to get involved and/or simply make a donation - I don't know what else will.

Living in Byron, I've been able to visit local depots were people are dropping off clothes, toiletries, food etc to help those in need. I'm sure you all sure the incredible efforts by Celeste Barber? Wow is all I can say about that! Seeing first hand the extent of the suffering & the loss, has been an emotional start to the year. Having said this, I have never felt so proud to be an Australia. Watching everyone rally around each other & give what they're able to even if it's just their time, has been very humbling. To everyone who has done a good deed, well done. Please continue to keep helping & keep giving.

Unfortunately even as the fires slow (let's hope this is asap), the aftermath is when the devastation will really start to show. It's very important to know that the fire disaster is not over - it will continue for years and years. Given that it'll take from 7 years for the land to fully regenerate after this recent fire disaster, sadly koalas will definitely be listed an endangered animal. Pretty hard to comprehend right?

ELYSE KNOWLES MARIE CLAIRE 2020 - CURRUMBIN WILDLIFE SANCTUARY

I am very touched that Marie Claire had been watching my interest with Currumbin Wildlife Hospital & Sanctuary and chosen to highlight this particular organisation and cause in their March issue. Summer issues of Australian magazines tend to celebrate what we all love ... fashion, beauty, great books & vacation spots! Sadly 2020 has kicked off with some pretty gruelling challenges for Australia but we can turn this around if we all pitch in. Are you in? If so, please scroll down to donate.

Marie Claire are spreading their kindness with this issue. They’ll donate $1 per issue sold to Australian wildlife charities coping with the aftermath of the bushfire crisis. Proceeds will be divided between Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary and Hospital in QLD, WIRES (Wildlife Information Rescue and Education Service) in NSW, Wildlife Victoria and Kangaroo Island Wildlife Park Fund in SA to assist in the ongoing efforts to help animals affected by the crisis and assist with the rebuilding of animal populations.

Thank you to the amazing team at Marie Claire (I've mentioned the whole team below), for allowing me to be an integral part of your special issue. An extra special thank you to Melissa Gaudron at Marie Claire who personally selected me for this cover. I am in awe of your genuine commitment to this cause & it was such a privilege to work together on this. And of course, thank you to the incredible team at the Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary & Hospital. This was one of the best shoots I have ever done, especially in terms of location! I kept telling the photographer, "We better keep going ... I don't think we have got the shot!" Of course we had got the shot but I didn't want the day to end!! Having three sweet little baby Koalas hanging off me is my version of heaven. I could have stayed there for weeks...months...years!

If we can use the publicity of this issue to increase awareness & donations, that would be an absolute dream. To learn more about Currumbin - please check out the below links and scroll down to find the button to Donate Now. Every dollar, every cent counts!! If you have a birthday gift to purchase, why not donate on their behalf? What better gift is there?

Social Media Information:

Instagram: @currumbinwildlifehospital
Facebook: @currumbinwildlifehospitalfoundation
LinkedIn: @currumbinwildlifehospitalfoundation
Website: currumbinwildlifehospital.org.au

DONATE NOW

It's been a tough few months as the emotions continue to flow every time I see an animal suffering. All I can think of is my dogs and how much animals are just like us ... they're living beings with beating hearts & enormous, loving, kind souls. Just because they don't have a voice, does not mean they should suffer.

The remaining animals need us now. They need every single Australian citizen to make sure they're protected from future fire disasters.

So come on Australia! It's time we learn to be proactive not reactive. Thank you for reading this blog & educating yourself about some of the remarkable people in Australia. We should all be proud people like this exist.

Elyse x

MARIE CLAIRE TEAM