Sharing a love of animals, youth council members Yvette Haynes, 14, and Georgia Siemensma, 13, have teamed up to raise money and awareness for Ballarat’s injured wildlife.
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The Loreto College students, along with some help from fellow youth council members, have created first aid bags containing the necessary resources to render emergency assistance to wildlife while awaiting rescue services to arrive.
“In the bags, there are things like towels to wrap baby animals in, reflective tape and things to help put markers up so if you have to leave an animal people can easily find it,” Yvette said.
There are also surgical scissors, bandages, gloves and water, Georgia added.
“We spoke to them (Wildlife Rescue Emergency Services) and they gave us suggestions on what to put into the bags and told us what they would be used for,” she said.
The girls said the bags should be kept in the boot of the car to be available to use for first response when coming across an injured animal.
“We had in mind mostly native animals, wallabies, kangaroos… because often it can be a while before rescue services can come and help out,” Yvette said.
But they said people using the bags should make sure they put their safety first, with contact details for WRES inside.
“There is a number to call inside the bags, so we always recommend people would call the number before they do anything,” Yvette said.
“It’s like when you have to call the ambulance and they talk you through what to do.”
The group has made 20 bags so far, but will make more depending on the response.
They were also happy to accept donated items.
“No animal deserves to be left dying on the side of the road without any help,” Georgia said.
“We are both really passionate about animals, wildlife and the environment, so it came naturally through that.”
The bags will be available at the information office at Ballarat Town Hall and Ballarat Animal Shelter for a donation of $5 or more, with all the proceeds going towards WRES.