Kenny Koala meeting kids at Floriade 2025. Photo: James Coleman.
One of Canberra’s most loved ‘citizens’ has officially hit the big 5-0 – but if you’re wondering about the grey hair, he’s had that from the beginning.
Constable Kenny Koala (CKK) was born on 1 September 1975 – legitimately crafted from a bath mat – when he appeared on the city’s only commercial TV station at the time, Capital Television, during the weekly show Junior Police 7.
“He’s been part of the Canberra community since September 1975,” ACT Policing Chief Police Officer (CPO) Scott Lee said, “connecting with children right across the community, and adults who grew up with Kenny now see their own children engaging with him as well.”
Kenny himself was a star of Floriade over its opening weekend – thanks to a pop-up display by the Ferry Gate – while the Visitor’s Information Centre at Regatta Point is also honouring the milestone with the exhibition ’50 Years on the Beat: The Legacy of Constable Kenny Koala’ until March 2026.
CKK attended the opening weekend for Floriade 2025. Photo: James Coleman.
Rather than presenting as an authoritarian figure, ACT Policing says Kenny is meant to come across as a friend to kids – “reassuring and engaging”.
Originally, his personality was so frantic and forgetful on TV that the host – a policewoman – frequently had to correct his mistakes, ostensibly to allow children to “relate to him through his lovable faults”.
Over the decades, he’s kept that slightly scatter-brained charm.
“His character is influenced by his frantic nature. There’s never enough time to do things, and he’s always just remembering something he was meant to do!” ACT Policing said in a statement.
Over the years, he’s been joined by girlfriend Tilly the Koala, focussed on educating kids on how to be safe in the community, as well as mailman Kev the Kangaroo for road safety, Ellie the Echidna for online safety, and superintendent Cassie Koala, Kenny’s supervisor, who’s “great at giving advice on how to stay OK for life”.
Nowadays, Kenny has morphed into more of a bona fide social-media influencer.
“He’s had to modernise over time – if it was first on television, now Kenny has his own app, he’s got his own Instagram following on our ACT Policing account,” CPO Lee explained.
“Over the past couple of years, Kenny has spoken to over 60,000 children.”
The original Kenny Koala puppet, made in 1975, was crafted from a bath mat. Photo: ACT Policing.
He leaves what Lee calls a “real legacy” in Canberra, from teaching road safety to guiding kids on how to stay safe online, all during school visits or event appearances.
“I do have some hobbies,” Kenny added (OK, maybe it was his handler).
“I do love getting outdoors, jet skiing, mountain biking. I know you don’t think I’d be very good at it, but I am, and making sure that I stay safe while I’m doing it, wearing my helmet.”
Kenny Koala’s current handler Emily McNaught. Photo: James Coleman.
Emily McNaught is Kenny’s 16th handler and has been working with him since April 2024.
She’s Canberra born and bred, and like countless children before her, she grew up watching Kenny deliver presentations in schools.
“I get to spend a lot of hours in the car with Kenny, so I hear a lot of his jokes and he talks my ear off quite a lot,” Emily said. “But it has to be the children. It keeps coming back to that, because they’re the reason why this program is so successful.”
Ms McNaught’s role, like that of Kenny himself, is part educator and part ambassador.
“We definitely like to reinforce that police are their friends,” she said.
“The kids already know and understand it, but we’re just there to remind them with a friendly, cuddly face.”
The temporary exhibition at Regatta Point, put on by the Australian Federal Police (AFP) Museum, is open until 18 March 2026 and celebrates five decades of Kenny memorabilia, puppets, costumes, media, and interactive learning tools.
As for Kenny himself, he’s not retiring anytime soon.
“Well, it feels very special. The ACT Policing and the AFP have done lots and lots to make my birthday feel very, very special. I’m really excited about it. Still got lots ahead of me.”
His CPO also teased Kenny’s career might even continue to climb the ranks – though, as of now, promotions are limited.
“I think he’s applied a few times, but there are still some limitations on what Kenny can do. We’ll work with Kenny on his development over time. Whether he might be a sergeant or a superintendent, we’ll see.”
One thing’s for sure – he’s more energetic at 50 than most.
Visit the NCA website for more information on the local events to celebrate 50 years of Constable Kenny Koala.
To download the app or play Constable Kenny’s online games, visit Constable Kenny.
