Located in southwest New South Wales, Balranald Shire Council recently released its 2008 calendar, featuring the Southern Bell Frog. With 12 pictures drawn and coloured by local children, the calendar will raise funds for the Amphibian Research Centre in Werribee, Victoria.
Council received 136 pictures in total, all of which are now on display at the Balranald Visitor Information Centre.
The centre is selling the calendar for $7.50 and several hundred copies have already been sold.
Balranald’s Manager Economic Development, Hank van Apeldoorn, said Council will donate 50 per cent of the profit from the sales to the research centre.
“The Southern Bell Frog is endangered across most of New South Wales but has strong numbers within the Balranald area,” he said. “Also known as the Barking Frog because of the sound of its call, it is very important to our Shire. It attracts many visitors, and we are now a must see destination for anyone interested in frogs.”
Council embraces its unique frog situation in a number of other ways, including the installation of a number of permanent frog sculptures that can be found in Balranald’s main street and outside the Balranald Visitor Information Centre.
Council recently installed its 11th sculpture, which is a frog reading a book outside the local library. A 12th sculpture will soon add to the collection. It will be a hitchhiking frog, located near the Balranald Caravan Park.
The Visitor Centre has a large number of frog souvenirs for sale, such as frog tiles, keyrings, T-shirts, fountains, sculptures and of course the calendar.
For further information contact Hank van Apeldoorn, on 0428 601 266.
