Catherine Kane gets shades up for Mount Helen wildlife shelter

Thanks to Catherine Kane's fundraising through a cupcake stall at her school, Mount Blowhard Primary School, she was able to donate $200 to Shanhaven Shelter.

The $200, which nowadays is a small load of groceries, has bought much needed screening for the koala enclosure at the shelter.

Nikki Shanahan runs the shelter out of her property, establishing the shelter 12 months ago, using her own funds for the start up costs.

As a vet-nurse of 35-years, Ms Shanahan is able to provide specialist care for injured wildlife, which was why she also included a clinic room.

"It's something I've wanted to do for a long time," she said.

"There is a lot of money in set up. The money Catherine has raised for the koala shelter is amazing - it just gives me goose bumps when the younger generation is aware and passionate about animal welfare."

Catherine was happy to give up her Saturday morning to put up the screening her donation funded.

"I like wildlife," she said.

"My favourite native animal is the feathertail glider."

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Catherine said it was a good feeling to see the funds going to help the shelter.

She and her family live on three-acres in Ascot, so they can see wildlife from time-to-time at their home.

Her mum, Anita Kane, said Catherine has always had an affinity for animals, big and small.

"She started with bugs, she's got stick insects and she's graduated to native wildlife - she just loves them," Ms Kane said.

"I tried to keep a ladybug when I was in kindergarten but mum said no," Catherine said.

Ballarat Wildlife Rehabilitation and Conservation (BWRAC) secretary Melissa Morey said the young girl's efforts where "phenomenal" to see.

"We so appreciate Catherine has been able to do her fundraising to help us purchase the brush privacy screens," Ms Morey said.

"It's so exciting that someone of that age is thinking about these bigger issues."

Ms Shanahan said there has been a concerning lack of koalas seen at the moment.

Other issues this time of year are road traumas.

"We've seen some young orphans come through, but it's mainly road trauma or animal bites from cats or dogs," Ms Shanahan said.

"I've got a kookaburra who was hit by a car."

Ms Shanahan advised echidnas will soon be out and about.

"They'll be on the move from now on," she said.

The shelter often sees raptors like wedge-tail eagles who have been hit by cars or run into wind turbines, Ms Shanahan said.

Ms Morey said cats were a huge issue at the moment.

"Cats are one of the biggest killers of wildlife and responsible for a lot of extinctions for our smaller wildlife," she said.

Ms Morey said BWRAC were also concerned about the lack of koalas and advised people to be wary on the roads.

"We've got a small number of koalas in the Ballarat area, road trauma and dog attacks for them is just huge," she said.

"Humans need to learn to live in better harmony with our wildlife and that needs to increase rapidly."

Ms Morey said it was important to support shelters like Shanhaven which is a specialist shelter and vital for the burden of helping injured native wildlife.

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