RESM Chiefs Team at Native ARC
Native ARC is a not for profit organisation that provides medical care and rehabilitation services or injured native wildlife in the south metropolitan region. Native ARC receives injured wildlife from a range of sources including the general public, vet clinics, local councils, rangers and other wildlife centres. They believe that education of the public in environmental sustainability will assist in the ongoing conservation of native birds and animals and support the development of strategic partnerships and program to enhance and expand critical wildlife habitat.
Through their care of native wildlife, Native ARC contribute to the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal* 15, Life on Land, transforming the lives of countless animals through direct medical care. And through creating awareness and educating the public on environmental sustainability, they help to ensure wildlife will continue to have safe environments to live in. This August, a large team of volunteers from Woodside’s RESM Chiefs Team joined in working towards this goal by swapping a day in the office with a day at Native ARC’s centre in Bibra Lake.
After arriving on site, the team of 21 volunteers were given a quick briefing about the organisation and the long list of tasks ahead of them. With most of the tasks being based outdoors, the severe weather warning they received shortly after arriving was not welcome news. There was a storm forecast to arrive later that morning, but the team saw this as a challenge rather than an obstacle and encouraged them to work harder and faster. And sure enough, just after 11am the torrential rain hit and didn’t stop for the rest of the afternoon!
The team stopped work to regroup and reassess their tasks. Luckily, the team’s quick work paid off and they had completed a large portion of the outdoor work. Some of the team went inside the education centre and gave it a big spring clean. Others were keen to finish off what they started, rain or shine! So they popped on a poncho or a waterproof jacket and powered through the day’s activities.
Not only did the volunteers have to brave the weather, one group had to brave some extreme smells as well! They were tasked with moving a very smelly compost heap, but there were no complaints. And the team were lucky enough to find some sweet potatoes growing in the compost heap, which they then used to feed the animals. What a treat!
It was incredible to see the team’s dedication to the project despite the heavy storm and wet weather. The team persevered and even when it didn’t seem like they possibly could, found a way to work faster and harder to ensure they completed the set tasks. Everyone at Native ARC were very surprised and impressed with the team, and with results like this, deservingly so!
By the end of the day, the team built an enclosure for the cygnets who are about to get realised, as the existing enclosures were only big enough for hatchlings but too small for the cygnets. They had also mulched and prepared a garden area near Vinnie the Wombat’s enclosure. The day turned out to be extra special for one volunteer, who had actually helped build Vinnie’s enclosure on a volunteering day last year and said it was lovely to be able to come back and visit him.
Not only was Native ARC impressed by the end of the day, so was the team themselves. They were all a chatter, having bonded throughout the day and expressing how much they enjoyed getting to know each other better while achieving tangible results for Native ARC. With the amazing energy and results at the end of the day, no one would have guessed the team had such a weather setback!
Great job team!