Hi Guys ,
Just back from South Australia .Not sure if any of you know whats going on up that way .Please read on .
Well here i go ,My tirp to Kangaroo Island was ok ,the plane was very
wobbly to say the least ,both ways .The island is virgin territory re
tourism and wildlife .Went to Parndana wild life ,it has been put
together with a great deal of effort and money .The owners have done a
wonderful job .They dont exploit the animals ,they are wild life carers
as well very knowledgeable of the habitats and wildlife .
My trip to
Adelaide was a real eye opener .Brigitte and her gang from Wombat
Awareness picked me up in her Rav four l.The girls in tow were Clare ,a
student from Queensland uni studying Wombats habitats, pheromones
deterrents behavior etc ,Alex an all rounder wild life career &
Brigitte Stevens .
The front seat had the stains of many a poor
animals bodily fluids and the car a stench of Wombat wee .I knew these
guys were the real deal .We pulled up to a traffic light and i could
see these girls were worn out and starving .I pasted the words are you
hungry ,the shy but sure words of yes came out in stereo.What to eat
was next ,Chinese it was .The girls followed me in to this very nice
but casual haunt .They were embarrassed ,we don't have money for this
meal was muttered to me .We sat and got to know each other ,i had never
met this lot .They ate like they had never been feed .Brigitte told me
of the Wombat rescue work and the problems they are having with farmers
,people and thuggs killing the wild life .
I thought that's general all over the world .
I
got to the Intensive care unit in Mannum 1.5 hrs drive from the Airport
.They had 12 Wombats in the newly built dwelling ,it was co habitation
of both humans ,birds ,possums and lizards .The property has wombat
runs purpose built by Frank ,Brigittes partner.These guys have built
all of this by themselves by hand and own money.Frank and i spoke for
1/2 an hour he was off to Ceduna with the rspca to collect three Emus
from a property that had no fed them .That was to be a three day
venture for him and the Rspca .The police got involved down that way
,all was resolved and the Emus taken back to a property near them that
could look after and rehab these skinny kids .
I booked into the
Mannum caravan park ,a little cabin on the water for $100.00 per night
,very nice .The ferry would transport the vehicles over the river all
day and night .I was invited to stay at the Wombat Rescue ,they have
Wombats in every nook and cranny .Brigitte and co have had to mother
these animals day and night ,they even sleep with them .I kind of have
a dim view on this practice and see a whole lot of work ahead if they
are to be released .I went to my cabin and slept well .Brigittes Dad
was visiting from Queensland he is a very nice man he dropped me off to
my room most nights.He told me of how Brigitte and Frank both worked
for Steve Iriwins and left great jobs and sold a home in qld to be in
Mannum .They purchased vacant land that they are now on .They have done
well making the place nice with what little funds they have .He told me
they spend 100s on food and medication each week for the animals ,they
go without themselves and have loaned money from he as well clocked up
credit cards .Brigitte moved to Mannum because she had a sick wombat
from Qld ,a specialist was in Mannum to treat this animal.Brigitte
moved to SA to protect these animals ,Frank had no choice he had to
come .(The Wombats have ruined my life he yells most days )Hes a great
man and real bird expert .
To be honest i thought i had come to a
bunch of careers that had great ideas and dreams but not much else .I
met them early that morning and saw them feeding the wombats and
telling me each ones story .The Bats were very responsive to these guys
and each had a tale to tell .This one she said is
Bean Bag its been
shot and has bullets still in his spine and other injuries ,it came
from a place called Portee.Lucky to be alive Brigitte said with a smirk
on her face .All the Bats had come from very lucky escapes .One little
,well now big one she said some one tried to cook it .By this she told
me the mother had been cooked in a fire when the people came to eat it
the baby was still alive in the pouch .They have reared this little guy
up to be a glossy coated strong Wombat .The Bats have runs each day and
they are rehabed in a very odd way .By that morning i could see these
guys meant very well for the animals and slept with them to keep them
alive ,a good nights rest is not a word they know ..I could see they
were on 24 hour intensive care of these animals .
Frank has birds of
prey out the back in huge enclosures ,he rehabs these guys for release
as well Pelicans and little owls etc .They all got fresh fish ,and the
best of care .
Brigitte invited me to see this place ,Portee with
her Dad .I was not too fussed to see a vacant 20,000 hect block,any way
off we went .Her dad driving, me looking at brown land and thinking
what had i come to ..
Brigitte asked her Dad to pull over ,a shingle
back was on the road ,she jumped out and put it on the other side of
the road .I hopped out and we extracted ticks from its ears and
deloused it with ivomec .Her Dad said shes just like her mother ,she
had died some years earlier.
The tar seal road had run out 20 mins
into the trip ,she squealed like a wombat waiting for its bottle ,what
now i thought .The car jumped to a halt ,this is a Wombat home ,its
fresh and the Bats been doing its house work .She pointed to fresh sand
and wombat poo as well foot prints etc .
It suddenly hit me ,this girl is no twit or mad wild life wanna be .
The
trip was slow each black rock or dot in the far soon became living
objects to my untrained eye ...look ,look a Bat ..ed if i could see a
bat in the tree .I didn't want to sound stupid ,after all im the expert
,arnt i ??
I soon found not this week ,im on a whole new learning
curve .I ve had heaps of Wombats in zoos and parks ,whats she going to
teach me .
Plenty ,i was now on a hunt for the Southern Hairy nosed
Wombats with Lady Wombat her self .Each rock wall became alive like a
psychotic notion of a stupefied being created .The day lead us to a day
of hell for our Southern Hairy nosed Wombats.After a few digs we came
across a load of tires that had been burnt with wire stuffed into the
holes .Here is the problem Brigitte pointed ,the locals ,farmers or
just plain cruel people here do this to kill the Bats ,they shoot them
,chase them in cars ,bury them alive ,blow warrens up ,tip petrol down
them etc .She said they are vermin here ,these wonderful kids are being
tortured & killed . This is where i got Bean Bag from ,see all
these tracks here ,see this pile of wire they chase and kill them .The
farmers fill the holes in at night and they are trapped .I come here
most days when i can afford it to save them .
Suddenly the race was on in my mind ,this was a race between us and the shooters ..
We
circled the land of Portee ,this is unique ,look at all the new digs
,this one has done house work .This one over here last week was just
dug ,we got to the hole the occupant had been killed .Was this some
ethnic cleansing ,nope just some one with nothing better to do .The
land is dormant ,a few sheep run wild .Whats the attraction to this
place ,why kill them .I pinched one of my favorite sayings (Because
they can. )
These animals are another mans blood sport .For every
action we have a reaction.Brigitte and her team have spent well over
$20.000 of own money just on vet fees not to mention set up a wild life
rescue unit and more ,cost $500.000 plus and ones time . This has all
been made possible because of parents,bank loans and some kind
donations and a well used credit cards .
Brigitte explained to me
the owners want to sell ,they have a price tag of $460.000 aus for the
top paddock .It is 13 kms long ,needs fencing .This will keep the
honest thugs out .The death rate is about 3 Bats per day that she can
find ,goodness knows what happens at night time she said .My math is
handy ,i calculate this is an urgent case, not long before they are
long gone.
I then met the owner of the land Mr Ian Clarke ,a real
farmer ,shook my hand like he was grappling a wild croc .He took me on
a tour of his property ,the Manor house he rebuilt 20 yrs prior,the
shearers quarters and the pride and joy his shearing rooms .Got my wool
down to 14 microns ,not bad id say .Had 20,000 head most times here .Mr
Clarke explained the land was a hard way to make money ,its all down
the gurgler he said .My wife died a few years ago so its time to sell
her (the farm ) and move to Port Lincoln .He wants to sell the whole
lot .Near 5million dollars.Developers are buzzing above wanting to
carve the land up and put homes on it .No more Womats cried Brigitte .
I
could see this would make a great research station as well save the
habitat for ever and be perfect as South Australia's first wild life
rescue unit . Students from all over the world could benefit this place
.Carol came to my mind ,Roo Gully mk11.I would certainly need her help
if i was to do any thing .
We had cup of tea and learned about
yester-year from Mr Clarke and Susan his daughter who had to tell him
his age as he had forgotten .She didn't want to sell but its a big job
running this place on your own she said .No . Sherlock .....i thought .
We
drove home very worn out and most sad thinking what the hell can we do
to help .The scene of Dolphins being killed in Japan and Orangutans in
Borneo being cut up with chainsaws flashed my mind .They all get help
,we have a serious problem here .This is just as bad ,not just here but
all over Australia .Bob Irwin is trying to stop culling of roos and the
like in Austrlia .He is good mates with these guys ,Bob told me they
are my favorite people .I learnt why very quickly .Bob was on the phone
and on a plane within hours .The next day we picked up Bob he had
driven and flown most the night from Kingaroy Qld...Brigitte said he
will have his tracky dacks on and his wild life shirt and hat ... Sure
enough we missed him at the carriage way ,he had snuck out for a rolly
cigarette ..His bright and positive manner took over his tiredness im
sure .We were starved and hanging to talk .A row of shops and a side
street were randomly negotiated..We sat yapping and enjoying our common
interest ,wild life .A reporter has eyes like a Harrier Hawk ,he zoomed
in on Bob ,can i have a reason why your in town .Well the story
unfolded and the reporter more or less followed us to the Wild life
rescue center in Mannum . A thousand shots were taken ,some i have but
no idea how to send to you ...The day was near end ,we had to get Bob
to the Portee site ,we met with the owners around 3pm ... Tea and cake
,soon turned to serious words of now all of us wanting this land saved
.Mary the owners now new wife said the lands to be cut up .Bob jumped
and said if so im out of here .This mild little Man is a demon ,they
knew he was serious .The price has come out at about $4ml to save this
entire habitat .
Thats a lot of money and a hard thing to find in
this economic climate ...I took over the conversation and explained our
intentions ,the owners were very sympathetic and offered a price as
well terms to pay off if need be and every help possible to save this
site .With this we left and all sat quiet for a spell .This has to hit
the media i said ,this is wrong .Im going to help with this .Me too
yelled Bob ,this is to be sorted its not on ...With that i enjoyed a
night with Bob ,he is a very genuine man and most agreeable to working
together in the name of the animals .( I know your all dying to ask
about him and his family ) lets say hes very proud and private .Our
meal was great and it was a real joy to plan the next step to saving
this property .
The rest of my trip was met with more meetings and
seeing Rspca , having a tour of town with the operations manager .Later
i will tell more tales .
So we are all met with this problem of how
to save Portee and the Southern Hairy Nosed Wombat .The price is $4mill
,Poor Carol has her place and $200.000 would see her right ...This is a
big job ,il take it to the moon if need be .Bob and i both spoke this
morning ,hes all for this project to go full steam a head and make for
a life time project .Brigitte has been on the phone filling me in with
all the ins and outs of hers and Franks project .Its like a snow ball
,collects and gets bigger every minute .
Home will tell more .all donations are being taken and put towards this project .
I
have not mentioned the Mange problems and the flaps these guys have
designed to treat animals in the wild .Its a long ,long story and a
super big project .All help needed and any questions to me or Brigitte
and Frank frank@wombatawareness.com...
This explains where i have been all week ,
To
Just back from South Australia .Not sure if any of you know whats going on up that way .Please read on .
Well here i go ,My tirp to Kangaroo Island was ok ,the plane was very
wobbly to say the least ,both ways .The island is virgin territory re
tourism and wildlife .Went to Parndana wild life ,it has been put
together with a great deal of effort and money .The owners have done a
wonderful job .They dont exploit the animals ,they are wild life carers
as well very knowledgeable of the habitats and wildlife .
My trip to
Adelaide was a real eye opener .Brigitte and her gang from Wombat
Awareness picked me up in her Rav four l.The girls in tow were Clare ,a
student from Queensland uni studying Wombats habitats, pheromones
deterrents behavior etc ,Alex an all rounder wild life career &
Brigitte Stevens .
The front seat had the stains of many a poor
animals bodily fluids and the car a stench of Wombat wee .I knew these
guys were the real deal .We pulled up to a traffic light and i could
see these girls were worn out and starving .I pasted the words are you
hungry ,the shy but sure words of yes came out in stereo.What to eat
was next ,Chinese it was .The girls followed me in to this very nice
but casual haunt .They were embarrassed ,we don't have money for this
meal was muttered to me .We sat and got to know each other ,i had never
met this lot .They ate like they had never been feed .Brigitte told me
of the Wombat rescue work and the problems they are having with farmers
,people and thuggs killing the wild life .
I thought that's general all over the world .
I
got to the Intensive care unit in Mannum 1.5 hrs drive from the Airport
.They had 12 Wombats in the newly built dwelling ,it was co habitation
of both humans ,birds ,possums and lizards .The property has wombat
runs purpose built by Frank ,Brigittes partner.These guys have built
all of this by themselves by hand and own money.Frank and i spoke for
1/2 an hour he was off to Ceduna with the rspca to collect three Emus
from a property that had no fed them .That was to be a three day
venture for him and the Rspca .The police got involved down that way
,all was resolved and the Emus taken back to a property near them that
could look after and rehab these skinny kids .
I booked into the
Mannum caravan park ,a little cabin on the water for $100.00 per night
,very nice .The ferry would transport the vehicles over the river all
day and night .I was invited to stay at the Wombat Rescue ,they have
Wombats in every nook and cranny .Brigitte and co have had to mother
these animals day and night ,they even sleep with them .I kind of have
a dim view on this practice and see a whole lot of work ahead if they
are to be released .I went to my cabin and slept well .Brigittes Dad
was visiting from Queensland he is a very nice man he dropped me off to
my room most nights.He told me of how Brigitte and Frank both worked
for Steve Iriwins and left great jobs and sold a home in qld to be in
Mannum .They purchased vacant land that they are now on .They have done
well making the place nice with what little funds they have .He told me
they spend 100s on food and medication each week for the animals ,they
go without themselves and have loaned money from he as well clocked up
credit cards .Brigitte moved to Mannum because she had a sick wombat
from Qld ,a specialist was in Mannum to treat this animal.Brigitte
moved to SA to protect these animals ,Frank had no choice he had to
come .(The Wombats have ruined my life he yells most days )Hes a great
man and real bird expert .
To be honest i thought i had come to a
bunch of careers that had great ideas and dreams but not much else .I
met them early that morning and saw them feeding the wombats and
telling me each ones story .The Bats were very responsive to these guys
and each had a tale to tell .This one she said is
Bean Bag its been
shot and has bullets still in his spine and other injuries ,it came
from a place called Portee.Lucky to be alive Brigitte said with a smirk
on her face .All the Bats had come from very lucky escapes .One little
,well now big one she said some one tried to cook it .By this she told
me the mother had been cooked in a fire when the people came to eat it
the baby was still alive in the pouch .They have reared this little guy
up to be a glossy coated strong Wombat .The Bats have runs each day and
they are rehabed in a very odd way .By that morning i could see these
guys meant very well for the animals and slept with them to keep them
alive ,a good nights rest is not a word they know ..I could see they
were on 24 hour intensive care of these animals .
Frank has birds of
prey out the back in huge enclosures ,he rehabs these guys for release
as well Pelicans and little owls etc .They all got fresh fish ,and the
best of care .
Brigitte invited me to see this place ,Portee with
her Dad .I was not too fussed to see a vacant 20,000 hect block,any way
off we went .Her dad driving, me looking at brown land and thinking
what had i come to ..
Brigitte asked her Dad to pull over ,a shingle
back was on the road ,she jumped out and put it on the other side of
the road .I hopped out and we extracted ticks from its ears and
deloused it with ivomec .Her Dad said shes just like her mother ,she
had died some years earlier.
The tar seal road had run out 20 mins
into the trip ,she squealed like a wombat waiting for its bottle ,what
now i thought .The car jumped to a halt ,this is a Wombat home ,its
fresh and the Bats been doing its house work .She pointed to fresh sand
and wombat poo as well foot prints etc .
It suddenly hit me ,this girl is no twit or mad wild life wanna be .
The
trip was slow each black rock or dot in the far soon became living
objects to my untrained eye ...look ,look a Bat ..ed if i could see a
bat in the tree .I didn't want to sound stupid ,after all im the expert
,arnt i ??
I soon found not this week ,im on a whole new learning
curve .I ve had heaps of Wombats in zoos and parks ,whats she going to
teach me .
Plenty ,i was now on a hunt for the Southern Hairy nosed
Wombats with Lady Wombat her self .Each rock wall became alive like a
psychotic notion of a stupefied being created .The day lead us to a day
of hell for our Southern Hairy nosed Wombats.After a few digs we came
across a load of tires that had been burnt with wire stuffed into the
holes .Here is the problem Brigitte pointed ,the locals ,farmers or
just plain cruel people here do this to kill the Bats ,they shoot them
,chase them in cars ,bury them alive ,blow warrens up ,tip petrol down
them etc .She said they are vermin here ,these wonderful kids are being
tortured & killed . This is where i got Bean Bag from ,see all
these tracks here ,see this pile of wire they chase and kill them .The
farmers fill the holes in at night and they are trapped .I come here
most days when i can afford it to save them .
Suddenly the race was on in my mind ,this was a race between us and the shooters ..
We
circled the land of Portee ,this is unique ,look at all the new digs
,this one has done house work .This one over here last week was just
dug ,we got to the hole the occupant had been killed .Was this some
ethnic cleansing ,nope just some one with nothing better to do .The
land is dormant ,a few sheep run wild .Whats the attraction to this
place ,why kill them .I pinched one of my favorite sayings (Because
they can. )
These animals are another mans blood sport .For every
action we have a reaction.Brigitte and her team have spent well over
$20.000 of own money just on vet fees not to mention set up a wild life
rescue unit and more ,cost $500.000 plus and ones time . This has all
been made possible because of parents,bank loans and some kind
donations and a well used credit cards .
Brigitte explained to me
the owners want to sell ,they have a price tag of $460.000 aus for the
top paddock .It is 13 kms long ,needs fencing .This will keep the
honest thugs out .The death rate is about 3 Bats per day that she can
find ,goodness knows what happens at night time she said .My math is
handy ,i calculate this is an urgent case, not long before they are
long gone.
I then met the owner of the land Mr Ian Clarke ,a real
farmer ,shook my hand like he was grappling a wild croc .He took me on
a tour of his property ,the Manor house he rebuilt 20 yrs prior,the
shearers quarters and the pride and joy his shearing rooms .Got my wool
down to 14 microns ,not bad id say .Had 20,000 head most times here .Mr
Clarke explained the land was a hard way to make money ,its all down
the gurgler he said .My wife died a few years ago so its time to sell
her (the farm ) and move to Port Lincoln .He wants to sell the whole
lot .Near 5million dollars.Developers are buzzing above wanting to
carve the land up and put homes on it .No more Womats cried Brigitte .
I
could see this would make a great research station as well save the
habitat for ever and be perfect as South Australia's first wild life
rescue unit . Students from all over the world could benefit this place
.Carol came to my mind ,Roo Gully mk11.I would certainly need her help
if i was to do any thing .
We had cup of tea and learned about
yester-year from Mr Clarke and Susan his daughter who had to tell him
his age as he had forgotten .She didn't want to sell but its a big job
running this place on your own she said .No . Sherlock .....i thought .
We
drove home very worn out and most sad thinking what the hell can we do
to help .The scene of Dolphins being killed in Japan and Orangutans in
Borneo being cut up with chainsaws flashed my mind .They all get help
,we have a serious problem here .This is just as bad ,not just here but
all over Australia .Bob Irwin is trying to stop culling of roos and the
like in Austrlia .He is good mates with these guys ,Bob told me they
are my favorite people .I learnt why very quickly .Bob was on the phone
and on a plane within hours .The next day we picked up Bob he had
driven and flown most the night from Kingaroy Qld...Brigitte said he
will have his tracky dacks on and his wild life shirt and hat ... Sure
enough we missed him at the carriage way ,he had snuck out for a rolly
cigarette ..His bright and positive manner took over his tiredness im
sure .We were starved and hanging to talk .A row of shops and a side
street were randomly negotiated..We sat yapping and enjoying our common
interest ,wild life .A reporter has eyes like a Harrier Hawk ,he zoomed
in on Bob ,can i have a reason why your in town .Well the story
unfolded and the reporter more or less followed us to the Wild life
rescue center in Mannum . A thousand shots were taken ,some i have but
no idea how to send to you ...The day was near end ,we had to get Bob
to the Portee site ,we met with the owners around 3pm ... Tea and cake
,soon turned to serious words of now all of us wanting this land saved
.Mary the owners now new wife said the lands to be cut up .Bob jumped
and said if so im out of here .This mild little Man is a demon ,they
knew he was serious .The price has come out at about $4ml to save this
entire habitat .
Thats a lot of money and a hard thing to find in
this economic climate ...I took over the conversation and explained our
intentions ,the owners were very sympathetic and offered a price as
well terms to pay off if need be and every help possible to save this
site .With this we left and all sat quiet for a spell .This has to hit
the media i said ,this is wrong .Im going to help with this .Me too
yelled Bob ,this is to be sorted its not on ...With that i enjoyed a
night with Bob ,he is a very genuine man and most agreeable to working
together in the name of the animals .( I know your all dying to ask
about him and his family ) lets say hes very proud and private .Our
meal was great and it was a real joy to plan the next step to saving
this property .
The rest of my trip was met with more meetings and
seeing Rspca , having a tour of town with the operations manager .Later
i will tell more tales .
So we are all met with this problem of how
to save Portee and the Southern Hairy Nosed Wombat .The price is $4mill
,Poor Carol has her place and $200.000 would see her right ...This is a
big job ,il take it to the moon if need be .Bob and i both spoke this
morning ,hes all for this project to go full steam a head and make for
a life time project .Brigitte has been on the phone filling me in with
all the ins and outs of hers and Franks project .Its like a snow ball
,collects and gets bigger every minute .
Home will tell more .all donations are being taken and put towards this project .
I
have not mentioned the Mange problems and the flaps these guys have
designed to treat animals in the wild .Its a long ,long story and a
super big project .All help needed and any questions to me or Brigitte
and Frank frank@wombatawareness.com...
This explains where i have been all week ,
To
