When Rally Godfrey opened his backpack at the end of the school day he did not expect to find a tiny brushtail possum joey snuggled into his jumper.
"It was cosy, all curled up. It was a surprise," the year one student from country Victoria said.
Rally immediately alerted teacher Fiona McKenzie, who admitted she was sceptical at first.
"I've never seen anything like this happen before," she said.
"So we went and had a look, and there it was."
When asked what he wanted to call the possum, Rally chose "Larry".
Wildlife carer steps in to help
The school entrusted Larry's care to Chris Lehmann, a wildlife carer and rescuer with Kangaloola Wildlife Shelter.
Mr Lehmann already has a theory on how the joey wound up in Rally's backpack.
"At this time of year possums, ringtails, and brushies are getting around with the little ones clinging to their back," he said.
"Birds like currawongs or ravens can harass them.
The wildlife carer is feeding the baby possum every four hours.
"I'm not getting much sleep," he said with a laugh.
"You hear some mums talk about kids that are good feeders.
Efforts to reunite joey with mum
On Friday, Mr Lehmann will head back to the school to try and reunite Larry with his mother.
It is something he has done successfully before.
"She'll hear that and she'll be able to smell him.
"If she takes any interest I'll just open it [the enclosure] up so she can go in there and get him so they can go back into the trees."
Rally hopes when Larry is "all grown up" he will return for a visit and jump into his bag again.
"I love him, he's so cute," he said.
Mr Lehmann admitted it would also be tough parting with Larry, but well worth it if a family was reunited.
