Fun day to help vital caregivers

FUNDRAISER
Hall Park, Mandurah

Saturday, November 16, 9.30am to 5pm

Jumping joeys, possums, bobtail lizards and birds are among the long list of orphaned or injured animals taking refuge at Mandurah Wildlife Rescue and Hospital.

In a bid to raise money for more than 100 animals to be fed, cleaned, and rehabilitated, the not-for-profit organisation has called on the community to spare some change at a jumble sale on Saturday.

Volunteer Alex Robertson said the hospital could spend anywhere between $200 to $400 a month just on food, including fruit, vegetables and formulas for the animals, and needed a helping hand to help boost supplies.

“We rely solely on Government funding and public relations,” she said.

“This will be our first fundraiser — we are trying to bring in some extra money, so we are holding a jumble sale, a big garage sale, to try and promote recycling as well as raise money.

“We will also have a sausage sizzle, games and prizes.”

Miss Robertson, who has volunteered at the hospital for more than two years, said the centre was looking after up to 50 joeys at different stages of development, nine possums and more than 50 birds.

She said the hospital received between five to 10 animals a week, but added it was unfortunate not all animals could be rehabilitated.

“We have everything... joeys, possums, mostly babies because it is breeding season and the babies are becoming orphaned, lots and lots of birds, bobtail lizards and lots of ducklings,” she said.

With the hospital located off the beaten track, past the Dawesville Cut, Miss Robertson said she wanted to remind people there was somewhere to take native wildlife in need of care.

“We just want to raise awareness of the fact that we are here and that we do rely heavily on the generosity of the general public to help us save these animals,” she said.

“Without the funding and volunteers we wouldn’t be able to do what we do.”