Rescuers ready for fire

By Bridget Brady
AFTER rescuing an array of animals injured during Victoria’s devastating Black Saturday bushfires, a Devon Meadows couple has started an animal rescue charity.
Nigel and Sharon Williamson operate Nigel’s Animal Rescue from their Devon Meadows home and decided to start the not-for- profit Australian Animal Rescue after Black Saturday.
Mrs Williamson said her husband and volunteers hit the ground running during the fires and did not have the opportunity to fund-raise as much as they would have liked to cover the costs of their voluntary work.
Mrs Williamson said she was alarmed at the number of dead ringtail possums that were unable to reach the ground to get water during the hot weather.
“It was the worst time I’ve ever had in wildlife care,” she said.
With the dire forecasts for this summer’s bushfire season, Mrs Williamson said donations given to the charity would help cover the costs of sending rescuers out.
“It costs our organisation $650 to provide every rescuer with the necessary equipment such as fire-proof overalls, safety helmet, safety boots, gloves and goggles.”
Nigel’s Animal Rescue is a 24-hour animal rescue business, but Mrs Williamson said they were limited with the amount of donations they were able to receive.
Some of the animals they take in include magpies, possums, birds and kittens.
“It’s flat out. You’re constantly feeding little mouths. We need the charity to keep it going because we couldn’t take donations with Nigel’s Animal Rescue,” she said.
A team of volunteers will be on hand to rescue wildlife and animals all year round as part of the charity.
“After the fires we had truckloads of donated (animal) food coming – it was just overwhelming. Every day we were sending two ute loads to all the areas.”
Mrs Williamson said they would like to see the money used to eventually establish a wildlife hospital at their property.
Mrs Williamson said donations to the charity would be welcome, and those over $2 would be tax deductible.
To make a donation see the website www.australiananimalrescue.org.au