GIVING BACK
ABOUT AWLQ Animal Welfare League Queensland (AWLQ) is a Gold Coast based organisation which was started in 1959 and works with councils and the community to improve the outcomes for abandoned and homeless pets. AWLQ strives to give every animal in need a second chance at life and promises never to euthanise a healthy, sociable or treatable animal in their care. As a result they have one of the lowest euthanasia rates in Australia for a shelter of our size. AWLQ’s Rehoming Program is one of the most successful in the country, with an average of 120 animals each week being adopted from their Animal Rehoming Centres. The team of volunteers and animal-care attendants are dedicated to providing a high quality of care and meeting each animals’ unique needs through training and enrichment programs. This year, 6115 animals were rehomed through adoption and rescue groups. In addition 3,791 animals were reunited with their owners.
www.awlqld.com.au Hamish Bell, Halcyon Greens
PASSIONATE ANIMAL LOVERS GIVE BACK
assionate animal lovers Kerry Plongstanding and Shannon Bell have had a relationship with the Animal Welfare League Queensland (AWLQ).
“We love animals and we love what the AWLQ does as they rehome animals rather than euthanase,” Shannon said. “We have volunteered with them many times over the years and its always rewarding to be able to give back.” Kerry and Shannon are longtime Gold Coast residents and moved into Halcyon Waters at Hope Island before making the move to Halcyon Greens at Pimpama a few years ago. “We joke that we have lived from Palm Beach to Pimpama,” Kerry said. “We love Halcyon and the facilities here at Greens are incredible.” The couple are heavily involved in the Greens community with Kerry LifeBeginsatHalcyon.com.au
serving as the Chair of the Home Owners Committee (HOC). They joke that their dog Hamish might be the most famous member of the Bell family, having starred in Halcyon’s latest TV commercial. “He’s already told me he wants a new agent,” Kerry joked of their beloved pet, an eight-year-old West Highland Terrier who they’ve had since he was a puppy. The couple jumped at the chance to refer their friends Phil and Jan Wregg to Greens, and see the Friends of Halcyon program as a win-win for all parties. “We win because our friends get to move in, the charity gets a donation and Halcyon gets some great homeowners,” Kerry said. “We also love that you get to choose the charity you want to donate to rather than it being dictated as it’s an opportunity to give back to something you’re passionate about.”
Kerry, Shannon and Hamish Bell, Halcyon Greens
