Tank Tales (Winter 2013)Members' Newsletter

2-68 Flinders Street Townsville QLD 4810Phone 07 4750 0800 Email Membership@reefHQ.com.au

The Reef HQ Aquarium team invites you to visit during the school holiday period and enjoy a very special Indigenous Cultural ExperienceSandra Fisher and Madeleine Ward l Reef HQ Aquarium Membership Officers

Reef HQ Aquarium members and friends of members are invited to attend an exclusive adult only Enchanting Twilight Event at the Aquarium. It will be a night of beautiful music, a tasting of fine food while taking in the amazing displays

at the Aquarium after dark.

Further details to come in the spring edition of Tank Tales or to reserve your place please phone the Reef HQ Aquarium Membership

Officers on 4750 0714.

Enchanting Twilight EventDATE CLAIMER

Thursday24 October

Reef HQ Aquarium is celebrating the work of hundreds of volunteers who have donated 350,000 hours of their time since the aquarium opened in 1987 - a feat worth more than$5 million! The aquarium celebrated the milestone during National Volunteer Week with a morning tea on Wednesday 15 May.

As the national education centre for the Great Barrier Reef, the aquarium has approximately 140 volunteers at any time, ranging from 20 to 88 years in age. Three of the volunteers have stacked up a whopping 26 years of service, 12 have given their time for more than 20 years and eight for more than 15 years.

Calling all shutterbugs!Dust off your cameras and clean your lens, a Facebook photographic competition is here. You can be in the running to win some great prizes by capturing any images of ‘Reef HQ Aquarium Residents’.

Jump onto the:Reef HQ Great Barrier Reef Aquarium Facebook page to find out more, but get in quick, the competition closes Sunday 30 June 2013.

Facebook Photographic Competition

Visit us at www.reefHQ.com.auOpen every day from 9.30am to 5.00pm (closed Christmas Day)2-68 Flinders Street Townsville QLD 4810

Sealink Turtle Project off to a Smashing Start!

V8’s Members’ Mates Rates Hot Offer!Reef HQ Aquarium leads the race with V8’s members’ mates rates offering Adults at Squids (Kids) Prices! Do you have family and friends visiting this winter? Make it a visit to remember by sharing an outing with your guests to the World’s Largest Living Coral Reef Aquarium. Introduce your visiting family and friends to our front desk staff when you present your membership card andall visiting adults enter at the child general admission price.Please note offer valid for the month of July 2013 only and not valid with any other promotion.

The SeaLink Turtle Project is off to a smashing start with a total of $3,066 raised to date from fundraising activities in March and April. All monies raised go towards helping the Reef HQ Aquarium team deliver C.A.R.E (Conserve, Act, Rehabilitate, Educate) for sick and injured marine turtles from across the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park.

The SeaLink Turtle Project, a fundraising initiative developed by SeaLink Queensland in partnership with Reef HQ Aquarium, aims toraise $50,000 over three years for the expansion and sustainability of the Reef HQ Aquarium Turtle Hospital.

Experience authentic cultural dancing, food tasting and a tour of the Aquarium through the eyes of a Traditional Owner.

• Saturday 29 June (10am – 12pm)

• Sunday 30 June (10am – 12pm)

Package 1 Member: $10 Adults $5 Children

Package 2 Non-Member: $36.50 Adults $17.80 Children(includes all day entry into Reef HQ Aquarium)

Bookings and pre-payment is essential as places are limited. Phone 07 4750 0714 or email membership@reefHQ.com.au

Reef HQ Great Barrier Reef Aquarium

Name: “Leroy” Flatback Turtle (Natator depressus)Found: Orpheus Island post hatchlingAge & Sex: Approx 2-3 years, unknownDate Admitted: 24/04/2013

Diagnosis: Arrived to hospital suffering from floating syndrome, however recovering well and no longer floating. Rarely see this species in the Turtle Hospital. Flatback Turtles are endemic to the region. Leroy is expected to be released within the next couple of months.

Name: “Phillip” Green Turtle (Chelonia mydas)Found: Magnetic Island, Townsville Age & Sex: Approx 35 years of age, male Date Admitted: 19/06/2012

Diagnosis: Arrived to hospital suffering from lung infection, floating syndrome and malnourished. Philip recovered well and is now in the Predator Exhibit while he gains weight.

Name: “Kobi” Green Turtle (Chelonia mydas)Found: Balgal BeachAge & Sex: Approx 8-14 years, sex unknownDate Admitted: 15/05/2013

Diagnosis: Arrived to hospital suffering from floating syndrome, however stopped floating the day after it was admitted. Kobi has a previous injury posterior of the carapace.

Name: “Puddle” Green Turtle (Chelonia mydas)Found: Ollera Beach, North of TownsvilleAge & Sex: 8-14 years of age, sex unknownDate Admitted: 24/05/2013

Diagnosis: Rescued whilst conducting turtle research. Malnourished and a previous boat strike injury. Puddle will be continually under observation.

Name: “Stevie” Green Turtle (Chelonia mydas) Found: Brisk Bay, Bowen Age & Sex: Approx 70+ years of age, femaleDate Admitted: 31/01/2013

Diagnosis: Arrived in hospital weighing 138.5 kgs, should be over 145kg for its age. Admitted to hospital with floating syndrome, suffering from extensive propeller strike damage and deformed flipper. Feeding well however will require a long a recovery time. Likely to be moved to a smaller heated tank during the winter months.

Name: “Sykesy” Green Turtle (Chelonia mydas) Found: Front Beach, Bowen Age & Sex: Approx 10-15 years, sex unknown.Date Admitted: 31/05/2013

Diagnosis: Arrived in hospital weighing 8.3 kg after being found stranded on the beach. Has a bruised plastron and is probably suffering from a stomach infection. Is floating slightly however is a new arrival to the hospital and is undergoing further assessments by a veterinarian.

Name: “Zi” Green Turtle (Chelonia mydas)Found: Conway Beach, Bowen Age & Sex: Approx 15-20 years, sex unknown Date Admitted: 14/05/2013

Diagnosis: Arrived to hospital suffering from a lung infection and floating syndrome, likely to make a full recovery over the next 2-3 months. Present weight 8.2kgs, should be 14kgs for its age.

Name: “Noah” Green Turtle (Chelonia mydas) Found: Rowes Bay, TownsvilleAge & Sex: Approx 40 years, maleDate Admitted: 21/11/2012

Diagnosis: Arrived to hospital with a lung infection and malnourished. Present weight 61kgs, should be 90kgs. Noah is recovering quite well, and will be moved to a larger holding tank prior to being released.

Little Leroy makes a big splash on World Turtle Day

Reef HQ Aquarium celebrated World Turtle Day on Thursday 23 May by introducing the newest celebrity turtle to the world, Leroy a Juvenille Flatback Turtle. Little Leroy was admitted to the turtle hospital (suffering from floating syndrome) and was found by a Coral Trout fisherman near Orpheus Island and is the fourth flatback turtle to arrive at the hospital since opening.

Weighing a tiny 600 grams, Leroy is the size of a bread and butter plate and approximately two - three years of age. Leroy is making a rapid recovery and will be in the Turtle Hospital for a few more months yet. Next time you visit the Aquarium, be sure to jump on a turtle hospital tour and meet little Leroy. To report a sick, injured or stranded marine turtles please contact the 1300 ANIMAL (264 625) hotline.

Patient Update

Let's Talk Turtle

Sugatrain Lounge Bar & Café 4753 2005 buy one main meal, receive 2nd meal half price (lunch and dinner only)

Warrina Ice Skating Rink 4753 2005$5 off admission (offer only available to one skater perReef HQ Aquarium membership card per day)

Plant Essentials 4721 312410% discount in-store or spa (excludes special offers and gift vouchers)

Precise Pest Control 1800 001 888$10 off any service

Paraskevi International 4721 509010% off salon service (excluding specials)

Hidden Valley Cabins 4770 808810% discount on accommodation

Hands on Wildlife 0437 056 15610% off wildlife party bookings (not valid with any other offer and must advise of Reef HQ Aquarium membership when booking)

Holiday Inn Townsville Shiraz Restaurant & Bar 4729 2000Complimentary glass of house wine or local beer with every main meal ordered

Sealink Queensland 4726 080010% discount on Magnetic Island ferry transfers (individual adult and child return fares only)

Just Cuts 4721 4866 / 4775 199912% discount for adults (Monday-Thursday)

Reef HQ Aquarium 4750 080010% off at selected items at the Waterview Café & Reef-In Store (excluding post office and items on sale)

Billabong Sanctuary 4778 834410% off Billabong Club and day entry

Museum of Tropical Queensland 4720 060310% discount on entry

Fantasea Adventure Cruising 4967 545510% discount off our Great Barrier Reef experience to Reefworld when booking direct with Fantasea Adventure Cruising Reservations

Event Cinemas (Townsville only) 4771 4101$10 movie tickets regular cinema and $13 movie tickets for VMax cinema (discounts do not apply to 3D sessions) (limit of two tickets per Reef HQ Aquarium membership card apply)

7 to 7 Bait & Tackle 4772 157710% discount off all goods (excluding bait)

Magnetic Island Sea Kayaks 4778 542410% discount when booking direct

Remote Area Dive 4721 442510% discount off trips and courses

Novus Windscreens 4779 15255% discount and regular in-store specials

Sea Turtle Foundation 4721 269920% discount on memberships

Townsville Mini Golf & Fun Park 4771 3999buy one get one free! (on purchase of 18 holes of mini golf only)

Techniques Hair/Beauty 4723 211410% discount on mens and ladies cuts or colours

Reef HQ Aquarium Membership Benefits...

Great Value! Great Experience!Each membership is valued at just over 1 ½ visits

Unlimited entry every day of the year (except Christmas Day)Awesome around town discounts (On presentation of Membership Card)

Exclusive invitations to ‘members only’ event/s and activitiesQuarterly member’s newsletter

PLUS... your contribution assists Reef HQ Aquarium to provide the best possible care for the hundreds of animals that call it home!

Around Town Discounts... (Reef HQ Aquarium Card must be presented to receive discount)

(Discount offers are subject to change without notice)