A tale of endangered species in NSW narrated by Sir David Attenborough and features David Suzuki, David Bellamy, Jack Thompson, and Olivia Newton John, Koala, Owl, Quoll & Glider. For the young at heart. “ON THE BRINK” was produced for RIC’s Endangered Species Project which focused on protecting 180,000 acres of NSW old growth forests. The Endangered Species Project raised awareness and sympathy for endangered species in the run-up to the NSW state elections in March 2003. Narrated by Sir David Attenborough Voice of Koala by Olivia Newton John as voice of Koala Jack Thompson as voice of Quoll and Owl And featuring David Bellamy and Blinky Bill This film was made entirely by volunteers. No one was paid. The wildlife footage was donated by some Australia’s best film makers. Actors and narrators donated their time and energy so as to add their voices to the swelling chorus of those calling for protection and care for NSW endangered species. ABOUT THE ENDANGERED SPECIES PROJECT AND “ON THE BRINK” FILM RIC organised a roadshow around NSW from Jan to¬ March 2003. Over 5,200 attended the grand finale at The Edge in Katoomba. This finale was attended by Bob Debus, Minister for Environment and he introduced the project and the video as "a good example of the kind of successful outcome that can happen when NGO's, the NPWS and Government co-operate on a common task." Debus accepted on behalf of the NSW government the last of the thousands of petitions and letters which had been generated by the roadshow. The successful outcome that he was referring to included the promise by Bob Carr a week or so before the elections to reserve 15 "icon forests", 65,000 Ha of public lands in NE NSW which the NE Forests Alliance had identified as the most important unprotected public lands in the region. It is this very area that David Bellamy was referring to in "On The Brink" when he pointed out that: “In some areas we now have very clear scientific information about how to protect endangered species. This is the case in North-east NSW. In 1998, expert panels of scientists commissioned by the NSW and Federal Governments identified the minimum area of habitat that must be protected so that populations of threatened animals could survive. For example they recommended inclusion of sufficient habitat in reserves for; • 1,224 breeding pairs of Masked Owls, yet only enough habitat for a fifth of these has been protected, • 3,781 breeding females of Spotted-tail Quolls, yet sufficient habitat for less than one fifth of these is reserved, and • 9,240 breeding pairs of Yellow-bellied Gliders, in 3 discrete populations, yet sufficient habitat for less than a fifth of these has been protected.” FILM SUMMARY ON THE BRINK WON SPECIAL MENTION AT 2003 HONOLULU FILM FESTIVAL This is a film about endangered species of New South Wales (NSW), Australia. It stars four of these endangered species both in a costume drama and the creatures themselves via spectacular natural history footage. The movie switches between the drama, where the 4 creatures seek to understand why they are in danger of extinction, and the natural history of the creatures which is narrated by Sir David Attenborough. In the drama, Olivia Newton-John (as the voice for Koala) leads Spotted-tail Quoll (Jack Thompsons voice), Yellow-bellied Glider and Masked Owl to visit first an aboriginal elder, then some young musicians, a logging protest, the forestry officials and parliament house in their quest for understanding and justice. There is further narration about the situation of NSW endangered species by British botany professor David Bellamy and a moving plea by Canadian environmentalist David Suzuki. Find out more about RIC's Endangered Species Project here: www.rainforestinfo.org.au/spp/index.htm Vale to Olivia: www.rainforestinformationcentre.org/vale_olivia