The not-for-profit organisation, Wildlife Rescue South Coast Inc has received a much- needed funding boost of $15,000 after securing the major share of the special bushfire relief round of the #GreaterIllawarra program.
The #GreaterIllawarra March round offered a one-off funding total of $30,000 split amongst three beneficiaries as a way of supporting bushfire-affected communities across the South Coast.
After winning this month’s community vote, Wildlife Rescue South Coast Inc plan to use the funding to cover the cost of feeding, housing and providing medical treatment to injured or orphaned native wildlife, as well as assisting volunteers to rebuild animal rehabilitation facilities such as cages, enclosures and aviaries.
Wildlife Rescue South Coast Inc is dedicated to the rescue and rehabilitation of injured and orphaned wildlife so they can be released back into their native habitat. Operating 24 hours a day, they rely entirely on the help of local volunteers to ensure the treatment, care and rehabilitation of local wildlife.
According to Wildlife Rescue South Coast Inc President, Debbie Colbert, the funding boost will make a huge difference to the work they do with injured and orphaned wildlife along the South Coast.
“While we welcome any kind of donation, receiving such a significant amount of funding from Greater Bank is life changing and will make a massive difference to the work we do to rehabilitate local wildlife,” Debbie said.
“This will enable us to purchase additional resources and equipment such as heat pads, humidicribs and thermostats.
“And because we rely entirely on the time and dedication of our volunteers, it means we have the capacity to reimburse our volunteers for their travel costs when recovering wildlife, as well as helping us to cover our vet bills,” she said.
Greater Bank’s Regional Manager, Greg Creagan, said that while much of the world’s attention is focusing on a global pandemic, it was critically important that we all continue to support the many communities still reeling from the devastating bushfires.
“The January bushfires devastated so many communities across Australia, no more so than here on the South Coast. For many this seems an age ago given what we are facing now with COVID-19, but it’s important not only to remember but continue to support those who are still trying to restore their bushfire-affected lives,” Greg said.