|
|
Save Our Wildlife Foundation Inc. Member Update |
|
Hi <<First Name>>,
We have a goal this year - to onboard 30 new active wildlife rescuers and carers. After our first 2 trainings this year - Wildlife Rescue 101 and Introduction to Bird Care presented by Rena Robinson, we have 10! We are well on our way to getting more help for our wildlife and reducing the pressure on you, and all our current members.
We also have a number of people currently in training and onboarding for roles in the box installation team, phones, IT and marketing. If you are looking for a little diversity in your wildlife roles, please reach out to your District Coordinator to discuss opportunities.
Feedback on our new training format has been positive so far and we’re excited for the first Introduction to Possum Field Practical at the end of this month, run in Woorabinda Bushland Reserve. Natalie and Bridget Jane Logan will be demonstrating and getting participants involved in the hands-on jobs of caring for possums. We already have 14 booked in but will take up to 30 so book in for a refresher and enjoy the great outdoors with great trainers.
This is a great time to train as the phone lines start to quieten - we had 351 calls in February, down from our peak of 649 in November. Saying that, we still have some carers that could really do with extra support with possums – please call Natalie Logan if you can help out.
In the background we have the Fundraising Team calling out for volunteers for the Bunnings BBQ on 17th March - we will have to cancel this tomorrow if we don’t get the numbers - last one we raised $2500, and it was a rainy cold day! Can you help? Bring some friends who love wildlife? Contact Alida today on 0414 976 945. Keep up the great work team!
For our wildlife!
Warm regards,
Marian
|
Wildlife Training
Introduction to Possum Care: 23rd March
We are excited to offer this brand new course for 2024 which includes a field practical followed by an online live webinar by our team of trainers and species specialists. Courses are free to prior attendees.
Register Here
Introduction to Duckling Care: 4th May
Leonie has had many years of experience and is extremely knowledgeable in the rescue and rehabilitation of ducklings. Rehabilitating ducklings is a great way to start as a wildlife carer. Course is free to prior attendees.
Register Here
Husbandry and Rehabilitation of Native Birds: 2nd June
This course sponsored and coordinated by SOWFI will be run by Dr. Anne Fowler from her clinic in Frewville and is a full-day course - we welcome wildlife volunteers from external organisations.
Register HereIntroduction to Possum Care: 15th June This field practical followed by an online live webinar by our team of trainers and species specialists is perfect for refreshing or upskilling your possum care knowledge. Courses are free to prior attendees.
Register Here |
|
Casual Ambulance Shifts
We are now recruiting drivers and co-drivers on a casual basis for weekends. If you think you would like to be a main driver or accompany another driver and can commit to a casual weekend shift, please complete the Expression of Interest survey by clicking on the image below.
Our new Ambulance Roster Co-ordinator, Eric Fu, will be in touch and will provide you with access to the roster, where you will be able to fill in your availability. We ask that all drivers and co-drivers have completed the Wildlife 101 Online and Practical Workshop or have registered for a future course.
|
|
Photo credit: Jacques Klop
|
Have a Say in the Future Direction of SOWFI Would you like to see what’s involved with being on the SOWFI Board with the view of possibly putting your hand up at the AGM in August? We are inviting 2 members to come along to the next board meeting (20th March 2024, 6:00pm - 9:00pm ADCT) to meet Board Members and experience the discussions and decision-making process. Our Board is structured to ensure that key roles which ensure good governance (Chairperson, Secretary, Treasurer, Membership and Marketing) have people with qualifications and skills to do their best for SOWFI. The 3 x General positions do not require any specific qualifications, but we often find people want to share their expertise - Karen Darling for example who initiated and coordinated our Wellbeing Program. Ideally, 4 of the roles will be filled with people that are currently working as a wildlife volunteer in rescue or rehabilitation (including phones and ambulance). At our next AGM a number of roles are coming up for renewal (they are 2-year terms) and we want to encourage our active wildlife volunteers to consider nominating. If you think you think you may be interested in contributing to the decisions and direction SOWFI will take as an organisation please come along to meet the current Board by sending your expression of interest to Sophie Porter at sophieporter@saveourwildlife.org.au.
|
Positions Vacant Please visit out positions vacant page on the website to see where we need extra hands. We are currently looking for some assistance from people with skills in the following areas:• Wildlife Ambulance drivers/co-drivers•
Box installation team•
Membership administratorIf you have some extra hours and experience, please contact Anastasia Conway at membership@saveourwildlife.org.au to find out more. |
|
Animal Currently in Care Report
Please find the linked report Animal Currently in Care last updated on 06/03/2024. If any animal rescue record updates are required, please enter them by clicking on the link in the email you received when you entered the animal record; or alternatively, contact a district co-ordinator with the outcome details and we will do the updates for you.
|
Bunnings Sausage Sizzle FundraiserWe're planning another Bunnings Fundraising Sausage Sizzle, and we could use your help to make it another sizzling success! Our last Bunnings Sausage Sizzle raised $2500 so definitely worth doing again, not to mention the great publicity for SOWFI volunteering. Event Details: Bunnings Sausage Sizzle Date: 17th March 2024, 8:30am - 12:30pm Location: Bunnings Mile End To achieve this, we need 3-4 volunteers for each shift (8:30am to 12:30pm and 12:30pm to 4:30pm). By volunteering, you not only help make the event a success, but you also get a chance to connect with fellow members. Please let us know if you can spare some time by contacting Alida Parente at partnerships@saveourwildlife.org.au. Your support, whether for a single shift or the whole day. is always greatly appreciated.
|
|
Photo credit: Marian MacLucas
|
Diary Markers and Events SOWFI Volunteer Week Picnic: 25th May
Let's celebrate our efforts during Volunteer Week and get together at our annual picnic in Belair. Please bring your family, enjoy a meal, activities, and Years of Service award presentations.
Happy Valley Harvest Site Planting: 23rd June
The Onkaparinga Council have approved a site in Dawson Avenue Reserve, Happy Valley! This a great news for our Southern carers who will have the opportunity harvest from this site in the next 12 months or so.
SOWFI Spring Fling and AGM: 10th August
Mark this date in your diary - if you haven't been it's a morning of interesting discussions, program solving and your chance to get involved in some decision making to solve gaps or issues the organisation faces.
Walk4Wildlife Challenge: 12th-21st August
Help us help them - participants commit to raising funds for Save Our Wildlife Foundation Inc. by walking, running, cycling or wheeling 24kms. Choose to smash the challenge in one day, over a weekend or 10-days. Will you join us?
|
|
|
|
Wildlife Volunteers Personal Safety Reminder
We want to keep all our volunteers safe so please remember: • Get a regular Tetanus vaccine booster • Wear your hi-vis vest when on a rescue or collecting browse• Utilize our Wildlife Box Installation Team rather than put up your own boxes
• Do not park on the side of a Highway or Freeway without calling Traffic Management to slow traffic 1800 018 313 |
Reminder for Feed and Merchandise Orders
Set dates for feed and merchandise orders can be found on the volunteers' section of the website. Stock will also be ordered then for anyone who has redeemed stock using subsidy points.
Subsidised stock is only valid from the 'Volunteer Subsidy Program Shop' and other feed and merchandise orders will require you to have transferred money to the SOWFI bank account before your order may be processed.
Please note that prices may change bi-monthly, so pricelists will be removed and updated to reflect these changes.
Orders: 21 Feb | 21 Apr | 21 Jun | 21 Aug | 21 Oct | 15 Dec |
|
Your mental health and wellbeing are important, and we acknowledge that what you do is not always sunshine and roses. You will see some things that are confronting and upsetting, and you will lose animals. We strongly encourage supporting each other through chatting, catching up, and sharing concerns as well as happy stories. However, sometimes it is also important to talk to someone who is trained to help people through challenging experiences.
WildTalk has been set up to help people working with
Australian wildlife in a volunteer or paid capacity.
It is designed to provide an assistance program to all rescuers, carers, veterinary professionals and researchers through times of illness, injury, or crisis that have an impact on mental health. Established in 2019, WildTalk recognises a need to support the wildlife rescue and rehabilitation workers in unique ways. As such, our service is provided independently of any wildlife organisation, giving our clients confidence to be open and candid. Working with wildlife is a rewarding path in life. WildTalk recognises that caring about wildlife comes with a variety of unique challenges and we are here to help. |
|
Wildlife Rescue 24/7 Phone Service (08) 7120 6610
You can also find us on:
|
|
How did we go? Click on the link below to let us know of your experience with us. Thank you for your time.
|
Copyright © 2023 Save Our Wildlife Foundation Inc. All rights reserved.
You are receiving this email because you opted in via our website.
Save Our Wildlife Foundation Inc.
PO Box 1158
Mount Barker, South Australia, 5251
Australia
Add us to your address book
Want to stop receiving these emails?
You can unsubscribe at any time. |
|
|
|
