Bluey and Bingo Meet Australia’s Endangered Species
🌿 Bluey & Bingo Meet Australia’s Endangered Species 🐾🦎
As part of the East Gippsland Winter Festival, Beachcomber Holiday Units is proud to present a heartwarming and educational lantern display featuring everyone's favourite Heeler sisters - Bluey and Bingo - on a glowing adventure through the wild world of Australian endangered species.
This year, our lanterns shine a light on some of Australia’s most unique and at-risk animals, each chosen to spark curiosity and encourage protection of our incredible native wildlife.
🌟 Meet the Stars of the Display:
This year, Bluey and Bingo are helping us learn about some of Australia's most amazing—and endangered—animals. From dancing spiders to giant pink slugs, each creature has a special story to tell.
🦋 Australian Fritillary Butterfly
This bright orange and black butterfly is one of the rarest in Australia. It used to flutter along coastal grasslands, but its home has been disappearing. People are now planting its favourite flower—the native violet—to help bring it back. Beautiful and brave!
🦎 Pygmy Blue-Tongue Skink
Once thought to be extinct, this tiny lizard made an epic comeback! Only as long as a pencil, it hides in abandoned spider burrows and sticks out its little blue tongue when it feels threatened. A quiet Aussie battler.
🕷️ Peacock Spider
These tiny spiders are no bigger than a grain of rice, but they sure know how to dance! The colourful males wave their fancy flaps like peacocks to impress the girls. A fabulous performer with a flair for fashion!
🐸 Corroboree Frog
Wearing bright yellow and black stripes, this tiny frog looks like it’s ready for a superhero mission! It lives in cool alpine regions and is one of Australia’s most endangered frogs. It even looks after its eggs in cosy burrows until they’re ready to hatch.
🪱 Giant Pink Slug
Yes, it’s real—and it’s bright pink! This slug lives on just one mountaintop in NSW and can grow as long as a hot dog. It only comes out at night after rain and helps break down leaves on the forest floor. Strange, slimy, and super cool!
🦋 Arid Bronze Azure Butterfly
This shimmering butterfly lives in dry inland areas and has a secret friendship with ants! The ants protect its caterpillars in exchange for a sweet treat the caterpillars make. It’s a brilliant example of teamwork in the outback!
🎨 Made with Love by Local Artists
This glowing display is a true community effort. Over the past two months, a group of talented local artists have generously volunteered their time and skills to bring this display to life.
The artists are part of a creative group that usually takes part in mosaic art classes run by Imagery Creations (Veronica Young) in Bairnsdale. But when winter arrives, they trade in their glass cutters and grout for paper, cane, and glue – crafting incredible lanterns that light up Lakes Entrance!
A huge thank you to our dedicated team: Veronica Young, Dian Clarke, Dave Clarke, Sue Spicer, Sharon Gray, Lois Lovell, Bill Redenbach, Jenny, and Matilda Hayes for sharing your creativity and passion with our community.
Why We Created This Display
Our goal is to use the joy and familiarity of Bluey and Bingo to encourage families to learn more about Australia’s endangered species and what we can do to protect them. Kids can spot each animal in our glowing display, and by scanning the QR code, visitors can explore more information about each creature online.
This is our fifth year participating in the East Gippsland Winter Festival and each year we’re more proud of the creative magic and community spirit that goes into our display.
Visiting the Display
Come and see the display out the front of Beachcomber Holiday Units, Lakes Entrance, from June 20th throughout the festival. It’s free to view, family-friendly, and lights up every evening.
Let Bluey and Bingo guide you on a magical and meaningful winter adventure through the wild wonders of Australia’s backyard!