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EMERGENCY WILDLIFE PHONE SERVICE - 07 5527 2444 (24 X 7) EDUCATION WILDLIFE REHABILITATION RESCUE Summer 2007/2008, Issue 47 WILDNEWS The Newsletter of the Australian Koala Hospital Association Inc. - WILDCARE AUSTRALIA This newsletter is proudly sponsored by BRETT RAGUSE MP FEDERAL MEMBER FOR FORDE Australian Koala Hospital Association Inc. Wildcare Australia Page 1 Veterinarian - Dr. Jon Hanger 1300 369 652 Wildcare Australia Office 07 5527 2444 (8am to 4pm weekdays) Wildcare Education and Training 07 5527 2444 Website: www.wildcare.org.au Email: enquiries@ wildcare.org.au P.O. Box 2379, Nerang Mail Centre, Queensland 4211 INTERNATIONAL PATRON : Brigitte Bardot AUSTRALIAN PATRON: Helen Clarke IN THIS ISSUE: MAIN COMMITTEE President’s Report 3 President Gail Gipp From the Office 4 Vice-President Karen Scott Wildlife Phone Service 5 Secretary Trish Hales Assistant Secretary Dianna Smith Coordinator’s Corner 6 - 7 Keeping the Dream Alive 8 - 9 Minutes Secretary Laura Reeder Official Business 10 Treasurer Kirsty Arnold Research and Wildcare 11 Education Karen Scott Kathryn Biber Species Spotlight: Whales 12 Kim Alexander Record Keeper Renée Rivard Rescue Stories 13 On the Lighter Side 14 Assistant Record Kiersten Jones Keeper PJ’s Wildcare for Kids 15 - 16 Newsletter Eleanor Hanger Renée Rivard Photo Gallery 17 SCIENTIFIC ADVISORY SUBCOMMITTEE New Members 18 Prof. T. Heath Dr D. Sutton Supporters 19 - 20 Prof. W. Robinson Dr C. Pollitt Dr R. Kelly Dr A. Tribe LEGAL ADVISER PHOTOGRAPHS Mr I. Hanger Q.C. T. Eather E.M. Hanger HONORARY J. Hanger SOLICITOR L. Meffan Position Vacant K. Remmert R. Rivard D. Smith T. Wimberley SUBMISSIONS If you are interested in submitting an article or photograph for inclusion in the next newsletter, please submit via the Wildcare Australia email address, subject “Wildnews”, before 30th March 2008 The views expressed in this newsletter are not necessarily those of WILDCARE AUSTRALIA or of the editor. Australian Koala Hospital Association Inc. Wildcare Australia Page 2 that’s close to our hearts that we often see the world with tunnel The members of the committee vision. So please, no matter how are all very approachable, and busy you are, add your signature the meetings are open to all, so if to the petition. It takes seconds you would like to attend, have an but it could help save a species. idea or simply need to ask “how it really is” please feel free to con- Over the last few months, I have tact me, by emailing [email protected], or I hope you all had a wonderful been working with Queensland Christmas and are having a safe University with a view to having any of our other committee mem- and happy New Year. our workshop courses accredited. bers. This has been an exciting proc- ess that is coming closer to com- Wildcare Australia is now in its One of our wonderful but very pletion. What does it mean? cheeky vets who works at the eleventh year, which is hard to Once our courses have been ac- Australian Wildlife Hospital takes believe as it doesn’t seem that credited by the university, those long since Eleanor, Sharon and I great delight in sending me people who attend our workshops emails from Dubai, where he sat around Sharon’s kitchen ta- and complete a brief exam will goes each year for a few months. ble, decided to take the plunge receive a certificate of accredita- and form a wildlife group and He loves telling me what he has tion which, unlike a certificate of been doing (usually sipping cof- then set about determining our attendance, can be used, if re- fee and watching the sunset).He vision for the group. A couple of quired, to gain credit towards fur- weeks and quite a few phone does however send some won- ther studies. It also allows our derful photos. Here is one of calls and meetings later (email courses to be taught at universi- them. Can you guess what it is? was nonexistent in our world ties and schools. This is not only then) we had what we hoped was The first correct email I receive a credit to Wildcare but also to will win a prize. the perfect list; all the things we those people who have spent so wanted this group to be and all many months and even years, the things we wanted to avoid. researching and compiling the That was in 1996, and here we notes you have today. So to all of are all these years later; it’s abso- those involved, well done! lutely amazing. Running a group like Wildcare I think most of us have been af- Australia takes an enormous fected by the Japanese whale amount of work, and most of it is hunt, and for those who have behind the scenes. Many take for signed the petition “well done”. granted the workshops, the meet- Recently I was speaking to a few ings, the networking, the legali- Gail Gipp wildlife rehabilitators and was ties, the notes, the newsletter, the amazed by some of the com- office, the fundraising and the ments I heard, suggesting a lack multitude of other tasks that con- Quote of the month of interest in the welfare of ani- tribute to making Wildcare Aus- mals outside their own sphere. tralia what it is today. But without There are so many animals out the very small group of people The greatness of a nation can be there that need our help, many who contribute so much of their Australian as well as international judged by the way its animals are lives to it, we would have a very treated. species. It is so easy to get co- badly operating rehabilitation cooned in our own environment group. Gandi or caught up with the species AUSTRALIAN BACKYARD WILDLIFE CERTIFICATE Wildlife Protection Association of Australia, Inc is encouraging more Australians to think about making their back- yards, balconies and patios wildlife friendly. If you have a wildlife friendly backyard, now can get recognition for that effort. Learn more at http://www.australian-backyard-wildlife.com Australian Koala Hospital Association Inc. Wildcare Australia Page 3 WILVOS WORKSHOPS Presenter: Dr Anne Fowler Saturday, 23rd February: Husbandry & Diseases of Birds (handling, feeding, housing, and diseases) Sunday, 24th February: Husbandry & Diseases of Marsupials WILDCARE OFFICE (macropods and possums) and Echidnas as well as wounds, bacterial and fungal infections in Reptiles (mainly water dragons, blue tongues). As you are all aware we are VERY Designed as an introductory day covers a lot but gives resources for more SHORT STAFFED IN THE OF- detail. FICE and we are extremely grate- ful for any time any member can spare. TIME: 9am to 5 pm COST: $10 WILVO members, $20 non-members. Firstly, a big thank you to Brian VENUE: CWA Hall, Short Street, Nambour Milligan for helping in the office two days a week for the best part of Bookings are essential and close Wednesday 13th February, 2008 2007. Brian, unfortunately, is cur- Bookings can be made by contacting Nalda on 07 5445 7771 or emailing rently ill and we wish him all the best. [email protected] Shawn Senior often calls into the office to lend a hand when he fin- ishes work at Fleays Wildlife and Roy Webster and I are always glad NATIONAL WILDLIFE REHABILITATION to see him. Shawn is great on the phones, helps to pack and unpack CONFERENCE 2008 goods and then helps with rescues on his way home. Great work Shawn. 21 - 25 July Crowne Plaza Conference Centre, Canberra City Tracy Paroz has been great; she’s been coming in to help out a few For details on registration, accommodation, programmes and speakers, days here and there when she has visit the NWRC website at www.nwrc.com.au had free time. New member Lauretta Salis has visited the office and been a great help recently and hopes to return again after the holi- days. Very, very new member Julie Swift-Hoadly spent her first day in the office this week and was a great assistance to me. OFFICE HELP NEEDED The Wildcare Office usually operates 8am to 4pm A special thanks to Kim Alexander whose help over the holidays in most weekdays and is in DIRE need of volunteers. If the office, with rescues and every- you have a spare day or even half a day a few times a thing else was invaluable. month, we would love to hear from you. AS ALWAYS HOW WOULD WE EVER COPE WITHOUT ROY WEBSTER - THANK YOU ROY. PLEASE CONTACT THE OFFICE - 07 5527 2444 Trish Hales Australian Koala Hospital Association Inc. Wildcare Australia Page 4 WILDCARE’S 24-HOUR EMERGENCY WILDLIFE PHONE SERVICE Just to reiterate, your fellow Wild- care volunteer telephone operators PHONE COORDINATOR If you can spare just 3 hours a are in desperate need of a break! week, we really need YOU!! All UPDATE Yes, it's been another ex- training is provided and we can tremely busy baby bird and bat guarantee you won't be bored!! season and of course the calls are Since the last newsletter we must still coming in, not only for birds welcome the following new tele- and bats but for all the other crea- Get in and give a little back to our phone operators: Mimi Dona, Kat tures that need us. wildlife and your community. It's Payne, Shawn Senior and Narelle easy and very rewarding so call Adams. These people have filled in me anytime. Responding to calls is not only a some major 'holes' for us and have great way to learn about our wild- given some of the other volunteer life but is also a means of educat- operators a well-deserved break.