My mission is to help educate Australia's children, teachers and parents about our endangered species and ignite in them a passion to help the conservation of these unique animals. This is our third year of running our "Face The Challenge" Crossword Competition, and it has been hugely successful with involvement from schools all around Australia from Cairns to the Cocos Islands. The competition provides a wonderful research opportunity for students in the lead up to National Bilby Day on the second Sunday in September annually.

As Co-Founder of Save The Bilby Fund I would like to say a big thanks to Joanne Johnstone and Peter Marsh from Planet Press EnviroPrint for their ongoing support which makes this all happen. Without them my dream of getting this endangered species crossword puzzle into every school in Australia would still be just a dream. Thanks also to Natalie Small for helping to develop the crossword puzzle and her tireless efforts in assisting myself and Save The Bilby Fund.

Thanks also to Darrell Lea for their continued support. This year, there was a 30% increase in the sales of Chocolate Bilbies at Easter from Darrell Lea stores, which directly supports Save The Bilby Fund in our work. So thanks to all of you that purchased a Darrell Lea Chocolate Bilby, as some of the proceeds from that has gone towards supporting this year's "Face The Challenge" Crossword Competition by covering the majority of the costs of the mailing to all Australian schools.

Frank Manthey Co-founder of Save The Bilby Fund (L), with Hon. Rachel Nolan, MP, Minister for Transport, Queensland
and a representative from Darrell Lea, at the 2008 Threatened Species Day event in Brisbane's Queen Street Mall.

Thanks also to the Queensland government. Queensland is the only state in Australia that has supported two of its staff in an organised national appeal to help save endangered species.

Also a big thanks to the former Federal Environment Minister - Ian Campbell for making our National Bilby Day possible.

I am hoping that after you, your family, school or community group complete the crossword and discover what beautiful animals we share this great country with, you will all want to join with me in trying to leave something left for the next generations to enjoy.

A great big thanks to all of our sponsors for providing Save The Bilby Fund with all of the great prizes for our entrants to win.

I give you my word, that all of the money raised will go to help save our endangered species,
no matter what state or territory in Australia they are in.

I ask all Australian schools to help me to raise funds by having a fundraiser for Save The Bilby Fund.

This year we are introducing SCHOOL'S BILBY DAY which is the Friday 11th September 2009, just two days before National Bilby Day on Sunday 13th September. This will give schools an opportunity to celebrate and hold their special fundraising event. We are offering a fantastic prize for the highest fundraising school. By holding a Bilby "Glow Party" Disco, free dress "mufti" day or buying some of our fun and economical merchandise your school can make a BIG IMPACT on the success of our work. Perhaps your school may also be able to help purchase panels of fence to help keep the bilbies safe. All profits from the sale of these items will help us in our work to help save Australia's endangered species.

In 2006 we released our first group of bilbies inside the huge fenced reserve that we all built on Currawinya National Park. It has been a great success! Inside the fence the bilbies are safe from predators and are breeding well.

This project shows that if we all work together we can do anything!

I ask you to please visit this site regularly and we will let you know how we are going.

Cheers,

Frank Manthey
Co-Founder of Save The Bilby Fund
PO Box 271
Ipswich QLD 4305
Email Frank
Ph: 0418 726 168

Planet Press EnviroPrint is a major sponsor of Save The Bilby Fund's "Face The Challenge" Crossword Competition.
Providing donated design and printing of leaflets, letters, posters, activity sheets and more,
plus hosting and design of this competition website and co-ordination of the mailing project to all Australian Schools.

Darrell Lea is a major sponsor of Save The Bilby Fund's "Face The Challenge" Crossword Competition.
Providing funds to cover the majority of the print and mailing to all Australian Schools.

Dreamworld is the major sponsor of the prizes for "Face The Challenge" Endangered Species Crossword Challenge.
They have generously offered to cover the expenses of airfare and accommodation for Frank and his Bilby to travel to the Schools
of the 3 Major Prize Winners and also to the Highest Fundraising School.