Surf Coast wildlife rehabilitation centre to open

THE driving force behind development of the Surf Coast’s first dedicated kangaroo rehabilitation centre estimates he is six months off officially opening the front gates of the refuge.

Surf Coast Wildlife Rescue’s Jason Cichocki is financing the project including the purchase of a 50-acre Wensleydale property.

“The fencing alone is going to cost me $80,000 just to set up and that’s the first stage of what I need, but that will get me up and operating,” he said.

The facility will also cater to the other animals he and his 70-strong volunteer team are called out to recover from Apollo Bay to Torquay, the Bellarine and greater Geelong.

“If I was to get an adult kangaroo that has superficial injury, one that does need a bit of treatment, we unfortunately have had to put them to sleep because we have had no facilities,” Mr Chichocki said.

“It’s something that this region has needed for a long time… they can come to us and stay there until they’re ready to go and we can release them straight into the bush on my property which is connected to the Otways.”
Mr Cichocki is on call 24/7 for the community when they come across an injured animal, but the service is largely unfunded and is sustained by his time, money and the help of other volunteers and donations.

“I own and run my own business so as long as I keep getting people getting their cars serviced and fixed here then I can continue to keep doing this.

“Once I became a carer and a shelter and started to build up a shelter, that’s when the government are in a position to help, but the reality is as a rescue service, a dedicated 24/7 rescue service, it’s not really been recognised by the government as something they would provide funds for.”

The Surf Coast Country Women Association (CWA) recently donated $1000 in fuel vouchers to the group and CWA member Deb Elliot helps out in other ways as well.

“Jason’s partner came and talked to us about what he was doing and she brought some (joey) bags and showed us, and I run Sewing With a Purpose through the community house, so the CWA make those with me,” she said.

Mr Chickocki said he would be unable to sustain the service without such help.

“It’s definitely something that takes the whole community to work together to be able to provide what we need for the animals.”