Shed continues to think outside the box

THE Torquay Men’s Shed has built eight new wildlife boxes for the Jirrahlinga Koala and Wildlife Sanctuary to assist animals to recovery after they are injured and rescued.

One of the Shed’s members, Brian Burch, has led the team on Price Street in constructing eight handmade ‘Wildlife Boxes’ (three large, three small and two modified) especially for the Jirrahlinga Koala and Wildlife Sanctuary.

Each box can accommodate animals such as possums and birds with a perch/branch in the centre and a warming light globe beneath the base to aid in recovery for animals rescued by the sanctuary.

Director of Jirrahlinga, Tehree Gordon, is stoked about the work the Men’s Shed is doing for the community and spoke very highly of the friendship her sanctuary and the Torquay community group have developed over the years.

“We have got a very good relationship with the Men’s Shed; they have been helping us out for years,” Ms Gordon said.

“These heated boxes will provide great use for injured animals that come into the sanctuary who are generally in shock when we take them in. Our previous boxes have got to be close to 40 years old and these new ones made by the guys are tremendous.”

Shed member Mr Burch took some friends visiting from the United States to see koalas some years ago which is where the relationship with the sanctuary began.

At the time, Mr Burch saw that the signage at Jirrahlinga was getting old and realised that it was a job for the Men’s Shed.
The Shed then took on the task of designing weather-proof signage holders that would allow the signs to be easily changed as the wildlife is moved between the enclosures.

The Shed has an extensive history in building nesting and wildlife boxes and is regularly asked for assistance following bushfires from Jirrahlinga and also Wildlife Victoria.

Over the years, the Shed has built a total of 18 bird boxes, 36 possum boxes and nine heat boxes.
The Shed has also done work with Deakin University as part of a zebra finch study.

“Principally we are a men’s health organisation, and we think it is good for men’s health to come to the shed and contribute to the community,” president Tim Robinson said.

“We are definitely looking forward to maintaining our friendship with Jirrahlinga as well as other wildlife organisations, particularly following bushfires.

“It’s safe to say our commitment to these bodies has evolved over the years.”

Bunnings Torquay also plays a large part in supplying materials to the Men’s Shed.