Mount Alexander Animal Welfare’s new committee of management hopes to put the challenges of the past 18 months behind it and take the organisation into a bright future.
The incoming committee was elected at MAAW’s annual general meeting at the Castlemaine Town Hall on December 19 and includes president Graham McFaul, vice-president Carol Jensen, secretary Shirley Hardy-Rix, treasurer Peter Geer and ordinary members Jan Hutton, Janine Jeffs and David Walters.
The all-new committee features a mix of both long-time MAAW members and newer blood and aims to turn the page on what has been an extremely difficult 18 months for the organisation, facing the challenges posed by COVID and criticism from within sections of the Friends of MAAW membership.
The Express met with new president Graham McFaul and secretary Shirley Hardy-Rix and the pair said the organisation hoped to start a new chapter and refocus on its purpose – animal welfare and re-homing rescues.
“Most of our committee members have rescues. We are passionate about animal welfare and most of us volunteer at either the shelter or the Op Shop or both,” Shirley said.
The pair said MAAW was proud of everything it had been able to achieve since it formed in 2017 to take on the management of the animal shelter after the departure of the RSPCA. This includes the establishment of the successful MAAW Op Shop in Johnstone Street, which enabled the organisation to purchase the shelter from the RSPCA, and the construction of a dedicated cattery to bring the shelter up to current regulations. MAAW has also cared for almost 1300 animals during that time.
“We are pleased to have the continued support of the Mount Alexander Shire Council and the fantastic support of our MAAW members, volunteers and the community,” Shirley said.
“We would like to take this opportunity to acknowledge our hard-working shelter manager Rosey Skinner and team and MAAW Op Shop manager Tania Butterworth and our incredible pool of volunteers across both organisations,” Graham said.
“As far as we are concerned the two entities go hand in hand and the success of the shelter would not be possible without the financial support of the MAAW Op Shop,” Graham said.
Shirley said the success of the Op Shop was also thanks to the local community and the quality items they donated to the store in order to support MAAW’s animal welfare work.
“Tania and our volunteers also have a great eye for special items, such as first edition books and antiques, and these are sold via our online Op Shop ‘Empawrium’ and social pages generating important revenue, which helps sustain the shelter and cover veterinary costs and other ongoing expenses not covered by our funding support,” she said.
The pair said that volunteers were always needed and new faces were always welcome.
People can also support the important work of MAAW by becoming a member for just $10. You can join at the Op Shop or online.
To find out more about supporting MAAW, visit maaw.org.au
