THE RANGE" Vol. 65 No.2
APOLOGIES
Apologies please to Bernice before noon on Tuesday.
DUTY ROSTER
20 July 3 Aug 17 Aug
Duty Officer Rick V Jim A Sherryl G
Assist DO Renee H Chris B Greg W
Registration Malcolm B Jeff C Laurelle O
Fellowship John McL James McC Lionel T
WOOLWORTH SAUSAGE SIZZLE ROSTER
08 Aug 0730 - 1030 Des C Rick V Fran T
03 Sep 0730 - 1030 Phillip S James McC Peter McQ
MINUTES OF MEETING OF 6TH JULY
President
Paulette opened her first meeting in that role by welcoming members and Guest Speaker Rachel Aspinall before the usual formalities. She highlighted the following upcoming events:
21 July RYDA - Rotary Driver Education in Caloundra:
This
program will again be held at Corbould Park. MSHS students will be
attending that day and it will be one of our leading Youth Projects for
the year. We are expected to provide volunteers for that day and at
least one of the other days of the program.
31 August Pride of Workmanship Awards Dinner at the RSL.
Our guest speaker for the evening, Rachel Aspinall, was introduced by Fran Tickle.
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Rachael runs her own business, Hinterland Wildlife Rescue and Rehabilitation Inc, located at Mapleton. The organisation supports locals with the rescue and rehabilitation of injured wildlife, aiming to promote a love of native animals and help when an injured animal is found. It provides information on what to do if a dead marsupial is seen and how to rescue any live joeys in pouches. Education is also offered to local schools and groups. Hinterland Wildlife also works closely with other wildlife groups, such as Australia Zoo Wildlife Hospital and RSPCA.
Rachael was a teacher in England before locating in Sydney and Hervey Bay and later at the Sunshine Coast Grammar School. She has always been a volunteer, being in the Rural Fire Brigade and SES at Nambour which gave her entry into the rescue and rehabilitation of wildlife. She has a private licence to care for koalas gained after 2 years’ experience through Australia Zoo.
Referrals for the rescue of koalas and other wildlife have generally come because of articles in the Hinterland Times and Facebook or from Australia Zoo and the RSPCA and other wildlife groups. Most of the calls tend to be out of hours when other organisations are closed!
There are many healthy colonies of koalas around the hinterland and several calls are received from people trying to work out if the koala is sick and needs attention. Rachel’s advice is that if a koala is sitting at the base of a tree or on the road and it does not move when approached, the animal needs attention.
Sometimes a sick animal is spotted and then is found up a tree. She has spent many hours at the base of a tree waiting for the koala to come down. She has recently been gifted a trap which can be set and has saved a lot of waiting hours. USC also have a dog trained in tracking koalas once a sighting has been reported.
Chlamydia is the most common infectious disease for koalas and, if not treated, the animal will deteriorate and die. Sick koalas must be treated by a licensed person and only healthy orphaned koalas are raised by carers. The orphans really bond with a carer, so it is important it stays with the same carer for the best chance of survival. Recovered koalas must be released in the same locality where they were rescued, after being checked by Australia Zoo to ensure they are fit for release.
Maintaining a food source for koalas under care is always a problem. Over 500 bushy trees are needed for one carer. Different leaves from many trees are needed at various times and Rachael spends about two hours a day sourcing leaves. She runs two enclosures as well as a secure perimeter on her property and cares not only for koalas but many other injured and recovering wildlife species.
20th Jul Maleny Hotel at 6:30 for 7:00pm for a Business Meeting
21st Jul RYDA at Corbould Park
21st Jul Farewell to Rob and Sam Outridge at 5:30pm at the RSL
3rd Aug Maleny Hotel at 6.30 for 7.00pm for a Dinner Meeting with Guest Speaker Nathan Dodd on coaching cricketers.
10th Aug Board Meeting
BIRTHDAYS FOR JULY
11th Jacinta Townsend 26th Barry Tickle
Only in California?
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