Mr Boo's Joey Sponsorship Program
Mr Boo’s Legacy
Mr Boo was where it all began …
Who would have thought one kangaroo could change everything!
Several years ago Nikki and Scott Medwell moved to a 60-acre bush property in Elphinstone, Victoria. From the first day, they were greeted by the resident kangaroo mob. “We need to learn about kangaroos,” Nikki remarked to her husband that day. And so the journey began.
Soon after moving in, they found themselves caring for their very first orphaned joey named Mr Boo. Mr Boo had been found standing next to his mother’s lifeless body. She had been shot and killed and little Boo who was less than 2kg at the time was left helpless and alone.
After many months of care, the time finally came for Mr Boo to go from a soft release to being fully released to be with the local, wild mob who had adopted him as one of their own. Mr Boo has since made his initial stomping ground home. Here he leads a small mob of hand raised kangaroos from care to true freedom whilst visiting Scott and Nikki on occasion.
He has never forgotten those who loved, raised and cared for him.
How to Support Mr Boo's Joey Sponsorship Program
Make a difference in the world and give our joeys a second chance at life by sponsoring one in need.
Depending on their size and physical condition, it can take up to 2 years to raise an orphaned joey to the stage where they can be soft released and eventually fully released into the RBWS forest where they will integrate into the resident mob.
They will continue to return twice a day, for their bottles of specialised formula, until they self-wean. Supplement feed is offered until the young ones locate a reliable natural food source and water.
Your monthly donations provide the ongoing care and supplies your joey needs to grow and thrive:
• special kangaroo formula
• colostrum
• bottles and teats
• oaten hay and hard feed
• bedding and pouches
• any medications your joey may need
This monthly sponsorship program is in it for the long haul; however, you can opt out whenever you choose.
Investment: $20 per month*
Benefits to you
The greatest benefit for you is the opportunity to be directly involved – by proxy – in the care of our orphaned joeys.
Red Box Wildlife Shelter is a no public admission shelter, however, with your sponsorship you will play a significant part in supporting our iconic kangaroos to be free and to live without fear of persecution, exploitation and displacement.
The Mr Boo’s Joey Sponsorship Program allows you to choose your joey, and in exchange for your sponsorship, you will receive:
- a personalised Sponsorship Certificate by email in PDF format so you can print out and frame
- the story of how your joey came in to care at the Red Box Wildlife Shelter
- A pdf of Mr Boo’s full bio
- an information pamphlet about the Red Box Wildlife Shelter
- a RBWS bookmark
- a Mr Boo postcard
- monthly email updates and photo of your joey as they grow and thrive!
*PLEASE NOTE that RBWS does not currently have DGR status.
Here are the joeys currently available for sponsorship
Cash
Cash arrived as a wee little lad in his mum’s (Tangles) pouch in August 2024. Tangles had a badly infected toe which was amputated but unfortunately the infection had taken hold of the second bone also, leaving us no choice but to give her assisted passage. Before falling ill the second time, Tangles dropped Cash out of her pouch and called to me. She allowed me to enter her hut and gently scoop up Cash. She knew she was dying (before we did) and made the ultimate sacrifice. She surrendered her son over to us to care for. We fed Cash and kept him warm and clean and would hang him in a pouch, in her hut so they remained together until the end.
Cash felt the loss of his mum deeply and withdrew after her passing. It was about 4 months later that he started to show his cheeky and boisterous personality. Once a pouch recluse he now joins in with the others, playing and jostling for bottle position at feed time. He is a delight to care for. His mum will be smiling down on him.
Gin Gin
Gin Gin came into care at Red Box on 16th June 2024, weighing just 1.2Kgs. We were told she was found alone in a paddock, freezing cold and dehydrated. It became very clear to us early on that Gin Gin’s rescue had been quite different to what we were told and it didn’t take long for her to show us she had been in human care for quite some time prior to being handed over to a wildlife rescuer. Gin Gin was skin and bone, had no energy, and had conjunctivitis when she came into care. Underneath the eye infection her eyes were cloudy – often a sign a joey has been fed incorrect formula, which can lead to cataracts. Her conjunctivitis was treated, and Gin Gin was placed on 4 hourly feeds with the correct amount of formula and is slowly being increased in line with her weight.
Gin Gin is settling in well and showing us what a sweet little girl she is.
Gretal
Gretal arrived in August 2024 in a rather unorthodox manner. A large free man that visits us regularly named Vinnie showed up at the house one day with her in tow. At only 2kg she was definitely too young to be out of mum’s pouch and so far from mum. She allowed us to scoop her up without fuss and after Vinnie saw she was safe, left.
We spent two days trying to locate her mum but without success. We can only surmise that something happened to mum and with the help of Vinnie, her daughter was given another chance to live her life. She settled in well, never made a fuss, never showed fear but has always been independent. We think she knows her stay with us is a pit stop until she is old enough to re-join her family in the forest.
Gretal is now outside fulltime and alpha female of the mini mob when the teens leave for the day. Gretal has experienced small outings in the forest but returns very quickly. She is building to a soft release.
Mia
Pyrn
Pyrn (as in Pyrenees, pronounced Pirin) came into care at Red Box on the 26th July 2024, weighing just 1.2 kgs. Two women found a kangaroo lying across a narrow road just off the Pyrenees Highway. The kangaroo had been hit by a vehicle and was still alive. These wonderful women had one of the RBWS wildlife assistance kits in the car and at once pulled over to render assistance. They could see mum had a tiny joey in her pouch. While they were waiting for a wildlife rescuer a man pulled up behind their car and demanded they move out of the way as he was in a hurry. They explained the situation and were subjected to a torrent of abuse. The man angrily returned to his car and drove off around the mum, driving over her tail in the process.
Upon arrival at RBWS mum was given pain relief, but unfortunately within 10-15 minutes of arrival she very sadly passed into her Dreamtime, leaving her precious baby in our care. For the first few days in care Pryn called for his mum continuously. The sound of a grieving scared little joey is heartbreaking to hear.
Pyrn is now living outside in the yards but visits the house for his daily bottle.
Pollyanna
Dear little Pollyanna was born here at Red Box Wildlife Shelter. Born to Mumma Holly who tragically passed into the Dreamtime way too early following an acute illness at the end of September 2023. We promised Mumma Holly we would do everything we could to ensure Pollyanna has the opportunity to be with her brothers, sisters and extended family again.
Remy
Remy was seized by wildlife officers in October 2024 from members of the public that kept her illegally. They pulled her from her dead mothers pouch and took her home rather than surrendering her to a wildlife shelter. They were reported anonymously by people that knew she was not being cared for correctly.
She was emaciated, dehydrated, covered in cradle cap and generally in a very sickly way. She would’ve been lucky to have survived to adulthood.
Since being in care she has thrived. Loves her bottles and being part of the mini mob. A sassy young lady that has a strong constitution that helped her heal from the abuse she had suffered.
Affectionate and as cute as a button, she draws the volunteers in for a cuddle easily. Since being given the correct formula and volume, her coat is healthy, her eyes bright and her ears like antennas. As they should be.
Roodi
Roodi was found in his dead mum’s pouch on Christmas day by a young couple on their way home. They reached out to a shelter, but the shelter was unable to take him, so they kept him for a few days under the supervision of the shelter operator. A few days later, on the 30th December 2023, Roodi was brought into care at Red Box.
He is a curious little man with a strong personality; and has settled into the mini mini-mob of young joeys really well. He is a real snuggler and is starting to show his adventurous side.
Roodi commenced his soft release towards the end of 2024.
Sweetie
Sweetie came into care in April 2025 after being rehabilitated and treated for wounds from a dog attack. After a few months in good care she was unable to be released where she was found and cared for, so was transferred to Red Box to continue growing into a healthy young adult in preparation for release.
She has settled in quickly and loves being part of a mob again (the mini mob). Despite wanting to be with the mini mob during the day where they relax in the yards and spend time together, she prefers to be on her own at night and heads inside and into the laundry where she has her own little bed.
