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\u201cIt\u2019s a valuable end goal, and not just something to keep residents busy. They can see they\u2019re making a real difference in the community, so it\u2019s a very special thing,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cSeven have come back from Mercy and half a dozen are being made out at Creswick at the moment.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe hope we can get another 15 to 20 out to Gippsland and New South Wales in the next month or two.\u201d<\/p>\n
Eighty-three-year old Ray Shackleton is one of Mercy Place Ballarat\u2019s volunteer craftsman, building boxes to accommodate small and large birds.<\/p>\n
\u201cAll together when I\u2019ve finished, I will have made 21, and the best part about it is that I really enjoy doing it,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m making them in the Men\u2019s Shed, and I\u2019m in there until about eight o\u2019clock at night sometimes.<\/p>\n
\u201cI have another guy helping me, Basil, who\u2019s 90. It keeps us busy, and it\u2019s for a good cause.\u201d<\/p>\n
Some bird boxes have been made for Rotary Centennial Park in Lucas, and once it\u2019s COVID-safe to do so, Mercy Place Ballarat plans to take their residents on an outing to see their craftsmanship in action.<\/p>\n
With the support of St John Ambulance, Alfredton Rotary Club has sent first aid supplies to the same bushfire affected areas to support animal rescue operations.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
A CREATIVE, environmental initiative from Alfredton Rotary Club and aged care facilities is protecting the birdlife in bushfire affected areas of Victoria and New South Wales. Handmade bird boxes crafted by Mercy Place Ballarat and Creswick Aged Care Facility are being sent to the Gippsland, Eden and Bermagui areas to encourage native birds to return, […]<\/p>\n