Non-profit group Ranges Rescue aims to provide ongoing support for wildlife shelters, beyond bushfire recovery efforts, as a new charity.
Since forming earlier this month, crafters have united in Riddells Creek to create more than 1200 pouches, wraps and nests for animals injured or orphaned following the recent bushfire crisis.
Founders Kate Nabarro and Sally Olinowski are now working to establish the group as a charity – a huge leap from a humble call-out for scrap fabric donations towards each of their initial smaller-scale projects.
The like-minded pair teamed up to coordinate their efforts and have since brought together more than 40 volunteer crafters for the cause, all eager to stock wildlife carers with supplies as efforts across the state increase.
“Now we’re getting wildlife carers reach out to us and we can offer them support matched to their needs,” Kate said.
“There’s an ongoing need for wildlife support, it’s not just now, but the bushfire crisis has brought everyone’s minds to it. Ranges Rescue is now prepared to support in any other that crisis that may happen.
“If you have a passion, an aligned vision and like-minded people, it’s amazing what you can achieve.”
Sally praised the crafters lending their skills to the project as “extremely committed and talented women”. She said it was their enthusiasm that encouraged talks of Ranges Rescue’s longevity.
She said people were becoming more aware of the daily efforts of wildlife carers and wanted a platform to help long-term.
“The wildlife carers donate their time, a lot of them are self-funded, this is their passion and without them a lot of the wildlife would not be able to recover and return to the bush,” Sally said.
“They are very humble people and it’s important that they get the recognition as well. They really have a hard job.”
While the group’s primary focus has been on sewing animal pouches and wraps, it has expanded to include donations of vouchers and others supplies such as bandages.
Volunteers have also made international connections and recently accepted a donation of hundreds of pouches to distribute to wildlife shelters. Updates on Ranges Rescue’s progress can be seen on its Facebook page.
