Picnic to raise funds for refuge

CONCERN for the wellbeing of injured animals has prompted Bimbimbie Wildlife Park owners Paul and Francine Davy to create a new refuge at the park.
The Davys will be holding a twilight Picnic in the Park on Saturday, 18 February to raise funds for the refuge and to officially open Bimbimbie’s new koala enclosure.
Francine said the refuge would be a place where orphaned or injured animals and birds could be kept and cared for until they were released.
“We envisage that this area would be utilised by all the shelters in the area with volunteers helping to care for the wildlife kept there,” she said.
Mrs Davy said she was hoping the twilight picnic would attract some generous donations to get the refuge project off the ground.
The picnic will be a family event where people can bring their own dinner, and sausages and drinks will be for sale.
Mrs Davy said there would also be plenty of entertainment with local guitarists and singers together with didgeridoo playing.
She said Gazette mascot Wally Wombat will pay a visit and there will be Wildlife Rescue display from Help for Wildlife and Wildlife Victoria.
Gembrook MP Tammy Lobato and Cardinia Shire mayor Bill Ronald will officially open the new koala enclosure.
Mrs Davy said there would also be a silent auction to help raise funds for the refuge.
The Davys are among many local wildlife carers who are registered under the Maryknoll Wildlife shelter.
Mrs Davy said many people were unaware that shelters and carers of wildlife are volunteers who, because of their love of Australian wildlife, get called out at all hours of the day and night and who fed and cared for orphaned and injured animals and birds in their own home and at their own expense.
Mrs Davy said she had applied for funding through the local council and other government funding, but was told an animal refuge did not fit into any of the funding criteria.
She said the refuge would cost in the vicinity of $10,000.
The picnic will start at 5pm and finish at 9pm and cost $10 for adults, $7 for children, and $30 for a family ticket.
Mrs Davy said it was wonderful so many people had volunteered their time and gifts for the picnic to help native animals.
“It would be great to see lots of people turn up at the picnic and help celebrate and show their love and support for our beautiful wildlife,” she said.