Shireen Porteous was approaching the Barnawartha turn-off on Beechworth-Wodonga Road last Thursday when something stopped her in her tracks.

“A koala was just sitting in the middle of the left-hand lane, rocking, like she was high on eucalyptus leaves or something,” Mrs Porteous said.

“I stopped because she was in the middle of my lane, beeped my horn and flashed my lights.

“She didn’t move, so I pulled over, got a baby blanket out of the car and picked her up.”

Mrs Porteous, on her way to pick up her sons, Kalum, 8, and Aston, 6, took her find with her to Wooragee Primary School.

Kalum said principal Chris Varker named the animal after a book, Koala Lou, and to honour his mum.

“The school called her Koala Lou-Shireen … she’s the princess of saving,” he said.

“It was a good experience, I reckon.”

Koala Lou-Shireen was picked up that day by staff at Kangaloola Wildlife Shelter.

Secretary Chris Lehmann said she was in a bad way.

“I’d say she’s had a glancing injury with a car,” he said.

“She was fitting for the first day and night, but she’s recovered very well.”

Mr Lehmann and the Porteous family released her near where she had been found on Wednesday.

“Even though this location is close to a road, we’re releasing her here because we’re fairly sure she’s got a dependent joey,” Mr Lehmann said.

“The joey’s out of the pouch, but still needing milk and would miss out on the final stages of nutrition and knowing about the dangers of the environment.

“When we arrived, the local farm owner said there was a koala that lives in this area and he's known her for quite a while, so that was a nice confirmation.”

Mr Lehmann encouraged others to think the same way as the Baranduda mum.

“Avoid dusk and dawn if you can, when they move, but if you can’t, drive slower and be aware,” he said.

“If you injure an animal and feel guilty about it, and it is horrible for most people, try and get help.

“Two out of 10 times we can make a difference for the animals.”

Wildlife Victoria can be reached on 1300 094 535.