Rehabilitate Wallabies & Other Native Wildlife

The Australian Honours and Awards system recognises the outstanding service and contributions of Australians.

While typically they haven’t sought thanks or recognition, they deserve both. The Honours and Awards system gives the nation a chance to celebrate and acknowledge those who work tirelessly to improve local communities and to make Australia a better place.

Joan R– For Service to Conservation and the Environment

Lynleigh G – For Service to Wildlife Conservation.

Sydney Wildlife Rescue have had a wonderful year with two of their very active volunteers receiving a medal at the Australia Day Awards ceremony for their contribution to Wildlife.

Joan started up the Rehabilitation facility and is the project manager of the rehabilitate Wallabies and other wildlife projects at the facility.  She also was instrumental in the development and implementation of the idea of having a wildlife only Mobile Care Unit       (Wildlife Vet Clinic).

Lynleigh and Joan have both been co- managers of the mobile care unit since its inception where they ran many fund raisers to raise enough money to buy the brand new RV and then set it up as a clinic. This would not have been possible without the huge amount of help from other members and the donations from the public.

Lynleigh is Northern Beaches reptile co-ordinator for Sydney Wildlife and as well as the OAM, she also received the Pittwater Woman of the year award last year.

Joan and Lynleigh were awarded these OAM’s because what they accomplished would have been a feat if it was their paid day job, but No, they did this completely as volunteers! This is not always easy when you have spent the day at work, then when you get home, you need to look after a family, feed the wildlife in your care and clean and then organize fundraisers and manage the Rehabilitation Facility.

Both ladies have numerous awards for their tireless volunteer work with wildlife and we are soo lucky to have them on our team and see them recognized for the amazing work they are doing for our native wildlife.

During the month March, Sydney experienced many weeks of consistant rain followed by a couple of days of extreme rain falls of over 300mm (12 inches).  With an already water logged earth, there was nowhere for this rain to go which resulted in major flooding events all across Sydney and the wider NSW area. 

Sydney Wildlife starting receiving more calls to assist with animals being affected by the ongoing wet conditions.  These included:

• turtles being washed out of their homes into unsuitable areas
• waterlogged possums and birds with nowhere to shelter from the constant rain
• possums and macropods have presented with a type of rain scald on their feet due to the prolonged wet ground and their feet not being able to dry

As a follow on effect from the rain, we have seen an increase in the mosquito population which has resulted in viruses being spread amongst macropods and other animals resulting in them needing to come into care for medical intervention.  

The rehabilitation facility didn't escape the effect of the extreme weather.  The road leading to the facility is not a sealed road and therefore, a lot of the surface was washed away during the rain making it hard for volunteers to drive in and out of the facility.  Some of the enclosures experienced gereral flooding.  As we have infrared cameras in most enclosures, any animals in danger of being stranded or harmed were relocated to other enclosures. 

We have had a lot of help from our Sydney Wildlife volunteers and our Corporate volunteers to get the facilty back to its former glory, and in some instances, even better than what it was before.  

There has been great community spirit formed amongst all the volunteers that have helped to bring the facility back to its former glory.  This wouldn't be possible without your generous donations that keep the facility running.

Thank you for your ongoing support.