Winch Wildlife Shelter grateful for fundraising rally

THE region has rallied behind one of its two remaining community wildlife shelters, raising more than $1,000 in just over a fortnight to keep its day-to-day operations going.

Local wildlife carer Alice “Ally” Doherty started a fundraising page on January 17 to drum up financial support for Winchelsea Wildlife Shelter run by wildlife warrior Barb Reyland.

“It’s been incredible to see the reaction from the community, they have been so generous, every little bit helps,” Ms Doherty said.

“It’s really, really heart-warming to see the community stand up like that and get that affirmation that people really care about our cause.”

Through Ms Doherty’s social media campaigning, $1,553 had been raised from the local community as of Wednesday this week.

Ms Reyland first started rehabilitating wildlife 44 years ago at Jirrahlinga Wildlife Sanctuary at the age of 14 under Tehree Gordon.

She then began her own wildlife rescue business Wildlife Rescue Rangers in 2016, before it officially became a shelter in 2019.

Local wildlife carers Ms Doherty and Torquay-based Grant Norris are also associated with the shelter.

“Somebody donated $500 – who has $500 to donate?” Ms Reyland said.

“I’ve just been blown away by the overwhelming generosity.

“I’m genuinely lost for words, and I’m tremendously grateful to all those who have donated, volunteered their time and helped me along the way.

“When you love animals, you’ll do anything. I don’t do it for any status, I do it because I’m fortunate, I love animals, and I’d give my life for animals.”

The operational side of the Winchelsea Wildlife Shelter is completely self-funded by Ms Reyland. This includes day-to-day items such as food and housing for sheltered animals.

The ongoing costs coupled with rising costs in fuel, personal challenges and the increase of wildlife being received due to the extreme weather has taken its toll financially and led to the need to launch a fundraiser.

“The unseen part of caring for wildlife is rescuers do a lot of leg work, sometimes the easiest part of the job is the caring of the animal,” Ms Doherty added.

“Sometimes we get animals that we are not necessarily equipped to take care of, and other carers tend to be specialists. So, there’s a lot of driving involved, just to get an animal the proper care it needs and it’s having a big impact on shelters such as Barb’s.”

The Winchelsea Wildlife Shelter can house up to 300 animals at any given time, and covers the Surf Coast, Otways, Colac, and Geelong regions.

To donate to the Winchelsea Wildlife Shelter, head to gofundme.com/f/winchelsea-wildlife-shelter