Sanctuary gets good Neighbours

By Kath Gannaway
TWO ‘Neighbours’ stars, a koala and a bronzed Aussie animal-keeper … Healesville Sanctuary couldn’t have wished for a better line up to promote the acclaimed wildlife park overseas.
Neighbours actors Ian Smith, who plays affable coffee shop owner Harold Bishop and Tom Oliver, who plays lovable (if a little shady), Lou Carpenter, spent a day at Healesville Sanctuary in November filming a sequence for the long-running Australian and international hit show.
Not to give too much away, the episode has Harold and Lou showing an English visitor around the sanctuary, something thousands of regular Australians take pleasure in doing every year.
The exposure ties in neatly with Healesville Sanctuary’s place as a key wildlife destination for international tourists.
The sanctuary’s communications manager, Jill Rischbieth, said a third of its visitors were from overseas.
“Neighbours is seen in something like 54 countries, so from a marketing point of view getting this type of overseas promotion is great,” she said.
The episode, featuring Har-old, Tom, Djembe the koala and animal keeper Raegan Di Paolo, will go to air locally in April and six months later in the UK.
Healesville Sanctuary is open every day from 9am to 5pm. Phone 5957 2800.