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The Northern Rivers Times Edition 132
BLAZEAID FIND A NEW HOME
By SAMANTHA ELLEY
As much as you may try, you can’t wipe the smiles off the faces of the BlazeAid volunteers right now.
Two editions ago, The Northern Rivers Times reported that the volunteer group had been asked by Richmond Valley Council to vacate the Rappville showgrounds by January 20.
“We had nowhere to go, so we were packing up and getting ready to move to Forbes,” said volunteer Cindy Lusted.
“Then I got a call from Nicky from Lismore City Council and she said she had a home for us.”
The home being offered to BlazeAid was 15-20 caravan spaces at the Lismore Caravan Park.
“It was just unbelievable,” Cindy said.
“We’ve got toilets,
showers and half the camp kitchen.
“We have six months there with another six months if we need it.”
Over the next six months Cindy said BlazeAid hoped to get many of the jobs done they were unable to fnish due to the wet weather.
“Now it is dry, the farmers are so happy and are ringing us,” she said.
“They thought we would have had to walk away.”
There are currently 20 volunteers helping farmers to rebuild fences and do jobs around the farms after the damage done from the February 2022 foods.
“We even have 14 year old Bella from the Gold Coast, who is here with her grandmother and she
is learning all these new skills,” said Cindy.
“You can’t wipe the smile off her face.
“We are all walking around with a spring in our step now.”
Byron Bay Wildlife Hospital has increased its operating hours to seven days a week
“Critically injured wildlife can’t wait until the next business day to receive medical treatment for injuries and illness,” said Foundation Veterinarian Dr Bree Talbot.
“They commonly present with injuries from impact collisions with cars, feral pest and domestic pet attacks, so it is incumbent on humans to provide a service to help them recover. It’s sad that the volume of patients is growing but we’re happy to be able to extend our service, thanks to the support of the International Fund
for Animal Welfare (IFAW).”
“To give our wildlife the best chances of survival, we need to ensure they have access to immediate and specialised treatment,
which is why IFAW is committed to building veterinary capacity together with Byron Bay Wildlife Hospital,’ said IFAW Animal Rescue Officer Robert Leach.
“By supporting this
critical lifesaving work, we are giving animals a second chance at life back in the wild, where they belong.”
“IFAW believes every individual animal matters and by extending this vet
service we are helping to ensure injured animals receive the care they need – no matter the day of the week.”
“It has always been our mission to operate seven days a week, and in time
provide 24/7 veterinary care,” said Byron Bay Wildlife Hospital Founder and CEO Dr Stephen Van Mil.
“Wildlife face peril every single day, from catastrophic bushfires and floods to habitat loss, being hit by cars and other human-induced impacts. With people returning to pre-COVID travel patterns, the potential for negative anthropogenic impacts on wildlife is greater.
Equally, there is greater capacity for people who care about wildlife to make a difference.”
