Klassic Koalas: Mr. Douglas’ Koalas and the Stars of Qantas

Koala Jo Publishing proudly announces KLASSIC KOALAS: MR. DOUGLAS' KOALAS AND THE STARS OF QANTAS. Asleep, awake, and ready for anything, the koalas cared for by wildlife carer Peter Douglas present their most adorable faces to the camera in these priceless shots, taken over a thirty-year period. Under Douglas' watchful eye, koalas were photographed in all manner of settings, protected from "pet" status yet allowed to display their unique curiosity for the delight of observers. Unseen by the general public, these pictures, accompanied by famous, witty one-liners will make you smile and laugh as they demonstrate yet again the irresistible nature of Australia's most beloved marsupial.

Also included are some of the most renowned Qantas ads featuring koalas. The popular I hate Qantas commercials originally featured a talking koala who sat in a eucalyptus tree while complaining about tourists disturbing its tranquil environment.

These advertisements were first created by the Cunningham & Walsh agency of San Francisco and aimed at an exclusively American audience. Running from 1967 until 1992 (and briefly reinstated around the time of the Australian Olympics in 1999), they became the longest television ad campaign in United States history. The original ads in addition to other examples, can now be enjoyed in person by visiting the Q.A.N.T.A.S. Founders Outback Museum in Longreach, Queensland. These classic publicity shots exhibit all the charm that helped cement Australia's position as a hot tourist destination. And if you think your eyes are deceiving you, they're not—that's not just one, but two albino koalas in some of the pictures, just as winsome as their more-pigmented brethren—yet a reminder that, without human intervention, the koala may become a mere ghost of a memory.