Merri is an Eastern Grey, and around Batemans Bay they're part of everyday life. One of my favourite things about driving to Mum's is seeing them stretched out in the grass, lazing in the sun or hopping casually down the street at sunset. And yes, roo poo everywhere.

But there's another side to seeing them so often. Housing keeps pushing further into the places they've always lived, leaving kangaroos navigating roads, fences, backyards and people. Seeing them in our streets isn't always because they've moved into our world. Often, we've moved into theirs.

They were here first. The least we can do is leave them room to move.

Acrylic and oil on canvas · 20 × 25 cm (8 × 10") · Original

Painted from a reference photograph by David Clode / Unsplash.