By Michael Newhouse
BRIMBANK and Melton residents have opened their hearts to the forgotten victims of last summer’s devastating Victorian bushfires, literally helping the homeless and injured critters from rural Victoria back on to their feet.
People have responded generously to Wildlife Victoria’s call for donations of blankets, doonas, sheets and any other materials that can be used to help the millions of animals affected by the bushfires that swept through Gippsland and north-eastern Victoria over the hot summer.
Organiser Alissia Dredge said last week the response to the Watergardens Wildlife Victoria drive had been amazing.
“It’s been overwhelming actually,” Ms Dredge said.
“I was totally surprised by the generosity of people, so it’s been great.
“I’m actually running out of room to store stuff.”
Ms Dredge said her CRV was almost at bursting point.
One generous animal lover even dropped off an animal transport cage large enough to hold a labrador.
“That’s fantastic, because when they go out and do the search and rescues, you obviously need to have something to transport the animals,” Ms Dredge said.
The donation drive will end this Saturday, 10 March, with a festival in and around the Watergardens town centre.
This will give residents one final chance to donate animal rescue materials and cash to Wildlife Victoria and to Victorian firefighters.
Activities will be held in the Watergardens shopping centre, the car park and in and around Bunnings Warehouse, one of the businesses supporting the Wildlife Victoria drive.
Firetrucks and firefighters will be on site from 11am until 2pm, and the day will run from 10am until 4pm, with raffle prizes drawn at 4.30pm after the festivities wind up.
