Urgent call for wildlife rescue volunteers

A not-for-profit organisation dedicated to rescuing, rehabilitating and releasing native Australian wildlife is desperately seeking more volunteers.

Wildlife Rescue Queensland, which primarily services Moreton Bay, will be hosting an information night next week in the hope of recruiting more members who will be able to assist with collecting sick or injured wildlife when the call comes through.

Colleen Ogilvie, who has been volunteering with the organisation for two years, says they currently don’t have enough people to cover the Redcliffe Peninsula and North Lakes area.

“We desperately need more active volunteers who will be able to tend to rescues in Redcliffe, Scarborough, Woody Point, Kippa-Ring and North Lakes,” Colleen says.

“When a call comes through from those areas for an injured or orphaned animal, we know we don’t have anyone there who will be able to go and get it, which is really disheartening.

“That is why we are putting a call out to see if there would be anyone who would be prepared to become a member and tend to those rescues when they occur.

“You will need to go and pick up the wildlife and then get it to our transport officers so they can take it to get treatment or euthanized.

“We do three transport trips a day at 9am, 2pm and 7pm. We take a lot of the wildlife to Australia Zoo where they will be cared for.

“This is a really important role, and we need people who can actively commit and be prepared to put their hands up.

“The animals are our priority.”

Animals the organisation rescue include birds, ringtail possums, brushtail possums, wallabies, koalas, echidnas, kangaroos, platypus, snakes and turtles.

To see some of the gorgeous animals the group have rescued, click through the gallery below.

Information night for new members

Anybody who is interested in joining Wildlife Rescue Queensland is invited to attend the information session on Wednesday, November 8.

“We will be talking about the organisation and what we do, what is involved when rescuing an animal, what should be in your rescue pack, and where to go from there if you do want to become a rescuer, or one day a carer,” Colleen says.

“There is no obligation to join, but if you are serious about volunteering and becoming a member, I invite you to come along.

“We provide you with all the training and have lots of mentoring and support available.”

The meeting will be held from 5.30-8.30pm in an education room at Katrina’s School of Hair and Beauty, located at 4/12 Leda Blvd, Morayfield.

To register your attendance, text your name, contact number and email to 0421 269 257 before 12pm on Tuesday, November 7.

A text message is the best way of contact, however you can also send an email to training@wrq.org.au

For more information about Wildlife Rescue Queensland, visit their website or Facebook page.