General News
3 June, 2024
Need for wildlife volunteers
Central Goldfields Wildlife Rescue (CGWR) is calling for local volunteers to support their efforts in protecting injured and orphaned animals. CGWR is looking for extra hands to upkeep the rescue team’s shelter for a range of animals including...
Central Goldfields Wildlife Rescue (CGWR) is calling for local volunteers to support their efforts in protecting injured and orphaned animals.
CGWR is looking for extra hands to upkeep the rescue team’s shelter for a range of animals including birds, lizards, kangaroos and wallabies.
Currently run by six volunteers, CGWR co-founder India Armstrong said she is looking to double her team to continue making a positive impact on native wildlife.
“Ideally we would like to have another four to 10 new shelter volunteers at least, our volunteers help with the day-to-day operations at the wildlife shelter, they help with the cleaning and care of the wild animals currently at the shelter,” she said.
“There are a lot of different opportunities to volunteer so we are always looking for more volunteers that are interested in rescue work and to transport animals between vets and shelters.
“You don’t need any wildlife experience to volunteer, you just need a love for animals and a willingness to help.”
Ms Armstrong started the CGWR alongside her mother, Sharon, in 2019 to provide help for wildlife in the region following the retirement of the Maryborough Wildlife Shelter.
Ms Armstrong said what started as a support service when the mother-daughter duo could provide it, quickly turned into a 24-hour service due to the “desperate” nature of local wildlife rescue.
“The shire desperately needs help for our wildlife — living in such a rural area that has a good population of native wildlife, and the fact that there aren’t any other shelters in the area, means there’s a lot of animals that need help,” she said.
“Whether it is animals getting hit by cars or stuck in fences, they are finding themselves either injured or orphaned.
“Without the help of our community, we won’t be able to keep running to the capacity that we currently do.”
Despite the heavy workload, Ms Armstrong said volunteering at the CGWR is a gratifying experience where simple actions can make a huge difference.
“It is certainly rewarding to be up close and personal with a range of wildlife like being able to bottle feed an orphan joey,” she said.
“If people were interested in getting involved, I would encourage them to get in contact to talk about what opportunities we have.”
New volunteers must be over the age of 18 and able to do at least three hours each week.
For more information, express your interest in volunteering, or to report a wildlife emergency, contact India Armstrong on 0499 654 950 or visit the CGWR Facebook page.
