•    Wildlife Victoria Member and Shelter Operator (who wishes to remain anonymous)

As a wildlife carer and WV member for over 10 years I am dismayed and distressed by the recent attack on WV by some Victorian Wildlife carers.

The damage these carers have done to WV and as a consequence the WILDLIFE of Victoria is immeasurable. There is a bigger picture at stake that they are clearly unable to see beyond their own backyards……their actions may well undo all the good they have done for wildlife…..and more.

Is not WV primarily a telephone service geared to provide immediate assistance to injured and orphaned wildlife across the state?  Its primary role is NOT to provide financial support to individual wildlife carers. Indeed, carers have welcomed such support in terms of fuel re-imbursements, feed/formula discounts and rescue equipment since the influx of donations perpetuated by the 2009 bushfires. So some carers think these donations should go solely straight into individual carer’s purses?  O.K…..who, if we don’t have admin staff, is going to administer these funds?   Will we leave this up to one trustworthy volunteer carer?  This is absurd.

The donations created by the 2009 bushfires has raised the profile of native wildlife and given WV an opportunity to become more than just an organisation staffed by volunteers. If we want a professional, viable, ongoing business that has the capacity to support and advocate for wildlife and wildlife carers in the future then OBVIOUSLY we need trained professionals running the ship.  Give all the money to the carers…..what happens when it is all gone?  There is no staff to secure further funding; there is no VITAL phone service to assist the wildlife.

I am sure financial mistakes were made during the horror that was the 2009 bushfires. But this was an unimaginable, unprecedented event and suddenly a small organisation, ill-equipped to handle the response, was fielding attention from all corners of the globe. Give them credit for not going under….for holding the organisation together and doing their best to get help out to shelters and wildlife affected by the fires. But just as important, having the vision to imagine how WV could grow from this experience……into a more professional organisation better equipped to assist our wildlife and our carers in the long term.

The selfishness of the carers making the complaints beggars belief. May I remind them that they are caring for wildlife because they CHOOSE to?  No-body is twisting their arm to put in the time, energy and costs involved in caring for wildlife. We all do it for our own reasons….. When we get financial support it is welcome….but it should not be an expectation. The actions of these selfish few may will bring about the demise of the telephone hotline….a crucial lifeline for our injured wildlife and the very reason for WV was created.

Shame on you - you don't speak for me!

To the Editor of the Leader Newspapers,

Re Response to allegations by Mrs Stella Reid against Wildlife Victoria.

My name is Dr Elaine Ong, Veterinary surgeon, owner of the Box Hill Veterinary Clinic and Wildlife Volunteer. I have been a wildlife volunteer for over 10 years.  I am Not a Member of Wildlife Victoria. I was a volunteer wildlife rescuer between Feb 2009 and May 2009 after the Black Saturday Bushfires and since 2009, a member (volunteer) of the Australian Veterinary Association’s Veterinary Emergency Task Force.

Numerous Veterinarians and Vet nurses from around Victoria and Australia were volunteers during Black Saturday. I worked in Taggerty, Marysville, King Lake and in the Kilmore area. I was directly involved  in placing Vet and nurse volunteers in the triage centres all over Victoria, including at King Lake, Taggerty, Marysville, Kilmore, Whittlesea and Wilsons Promontory.

During this time, the Australian Veterinary Association emergency task force worked closely with Wildlife Victoria, RSPCA, the Lort Smith, Victorian Animal Aid Trust and many private Vets from Victoria who lent a hand. Wildlife Victoria was responsible for setting up and funding all the triage centres in ALL those areas.  They also paid for tens of thousands of dollars of medicines and supplies used at these fires.

Hundreds of wildlife were rescued, captured, treated and delivered to Healesville Sanctuary, the Melbourne Zoo and wildlife carers who took them in. The fatally injured were euthanased humanely. All the vets and wildlife carers I came across have not asked for anything. Everyone simply chipped in the best they could at the time of duress.

Without the contribution of Wildlife Victoria, there would not have been a significant response for wildlife rescue and such a large number triage centres set up. The same occurred in the Grampians Fires in 2010 and at the floods in Lake Eppalock, where I was directly involved in assisting with the capture of wildlife and Wildlife Victoria paid for all the supplies to capture and treat all the wallabies and kangaroos.

I believe that Ms Reid is only someone who felt she did not receive sufficient monetary help for her wildlife shelter. However, by presenting a myopic and insular view, she is only damaging the cause for Wildlife and in the process, belittling and defaming a charity that did a remarkable job during 2009, 2010 and 2011. No doubt I have respect for most wildlife carers and the volunteers. They should be glorified for their selfless work but she is only one of hundreds.

At the time, everyone ran around and did the best they could. The funds were used very well and they were efficient (response within 4 days). The funds were used carefully and they relied heavily on volunteers but they were certainly not wasted.

Sometimes, volunteers have to stop and remind themselves of the fine line between selflessness and insular self - righteousness.

Dr Elaine Ong

•    Dr Chris Barton, Veterinary Surgeon and Owner of the Eltham Central and Montmorency Veterinary Hospitals

To The Editor of Leader Newspapers,

Re Mrs. Stella Reid Wildlife Carer

My name is Dr Chris Barton, Veterinary Surgeon and owner of the Eltham Central and Montmorency Veterinary Hospitals. I am a wildlife Volunteer but not a Member of Wildlife Victoria. I worked closely with Wildlife Victoria as a volunteer during the 2009 Black Saturday Fires.

Ms Stella Reid's statement that she had no help from Wildlife Victoria is false.

Within a few days of the fires I travelled with a Wildlife Victoria rescuer and darter, with permission from the CFA to assist Ms Reid and her animals. The majority of the wildlife on her property were killed by the fires and after the initial visit there was nothing more that could be done.

A lot of resources were given to her on that day, a Veterinarian, a Wildlife Victoria darter and rescuer, supplies and drugs, there was a very high demand for assistance in those early days and she should be thanking Wildlife Victoria not criticizing them. It appears to me like a personal vendetta and as such should not be aired in public or given credence by this newspaper. We went to render emergency assistance for her injured wildlife. We were happy to assist and she was one of the first to receive help.

As one of the Veterinarians assisting in with the care of wildlife and any other animals that were affected I can say categorically that without the assistance of Wildlife Victoria a lot of the work could not have been done. I was personally involved in the distribution of medical supplies to other Veterinarians and wildlife carers and most of it was paid for by Wildlife Victoria. They also paid for transport and all office resources required to coordinate the operation.

I believe that a large proportion of the money donated is still held in trust for other emergencies. Unlike some organisations they have not wasted the donations on special interest group demands.

The membership fees are very small and there is no government assistance thus there is not a lot of money in the bank to spend. From a small fund administration is a very large proportion of that fund; if they had millions of dollars income annually the proportion would be very small.

Dr Chris Barton
BSc(hons), BVSc, Dip Ag Sci

Dear Reader,

As a qualified and experienced Zoo Keeper, a past Veterinary Nurse and past owner and Operator of a Wildlife Shelter in Victoria, I would like to pass on my respect and highest regard for Wildlife Victoria. I was operating The Chum Creek Wildlife Shelter at the time of the devestating bushfires three years ago. Our community was rocked by the fires, as was our local wildlife. I had not been a member before the fires, and afterwards contacted Wildlife Vic for help with the unprecedented injured animals coming into my care. Wildlife Victoria were instantly on the ground, with people, resources and funding. I was overwhelmed by the professionalism of their staff and volunteers, and not once had any difficulty securing funds to aid my work to continue. They offered their full support. The dedication of their staff was exemplary, and it did not stop when the media hype slowed. They were resourceful in securing equipment for a lot of other wildlife shelters and I was helped greatly to assist the hundreds of animals I did, from the moment I joined their group.

I have since relocated to NSW and joined the second of NSW wildlife groups run here in this state. I can gladly say the amount of skill, training and support given by Wildlife Victoria is second to none across Vic and NSW I believe.

I am saddened as are many other excellent skilled, and dedicated wildlife carer and other animal professional groups that crIticism and public damning be made that is intended to tarnish the reputation of both Wildlife Vic, and wildlife shelter operators themselves. It did happen to me also. It is well known that there are a select number of disgruntled, rude and sad individuals who like to ruin and damage our work for what satisfaction I cannot, and will never understand.

I do hope Wildlife Victoria stands firm in their honest and diligent approach to wildlife caring and support of its members, and this slandering is long forgotten within a short period.

I have nothing but fond memories and was proud to wprk with and be part of such a dynamic, caring and positive Wildlife and community organisation.

Kindest Regards,
Miss Belinda. Gales

•    Wildlife Victoria Member and Volunteer (who wishes to remain anonymous)
I was a rescuer and transporter for about 2 years for WV. I have been unable to volunteer this year, due to a change in our circumstances, but am still an avid lover of our wildlife and WV. I would like to say how very disappointing I find the attitude of the carers who attacked WV so publicly. I was offered some re-imbursement for fuel etc at times, but really didn't want it and never accepted it. I CHOSE to do this voluntary work and that really is the point. I thoroughly concur with the anonymous carer, that these other carers (buggers) made the choice themselves. It is not as if they were appointed by WV to be carers.
Keep up the good work WV.

•    Doris Morton, Wildlife Victoria Member

“To Whom It May Concern,

I have been a member of Wildlife Victoria for the past eight years or so.  During this time I came to know many of the hard-working carers, foster carers, rescue/transport people and the very efficient telephone operators.

I have been on the Committee twice, I have been looking after the staffing of the 24/7 telephone service, I have been and still am a carer and still do rescue/transport. All of this is funded out of my own pocket and never do I even dream of asking for any reimbursement.  My phone bills are high, my petrol bills are high and yet I love what I do as a volunteer of Wildlife Victoria. I am proud to be a member and I would defend anybody within WV as to their integrity, honesty and total commitment to what they do.

It is with sadness that I read this negative article in the Leader Newspapers, especially since I know that Stella Reid, the initiator, received all of her donations totalling to just about $ 100,000. Her foster carer Laurelle drives one of the Mazda trucks free of any charges (long term). Stella was given substantial help by volunteers who donated their time by going to her shelter and helping to reconstruct. I cannot for the life of me understand what the gripe is all about unless it is to once more collect donations. If a shelter finds it too difficult to care for hundreds of animals, should they not reconsider to downsize, should they not only do what they can comfortably do? Nowhere is it stated that shelters will be funded. On the contrary, we are all told that we are volunteers.  What is achieved by attacking an organisation this way? Who gains satisfaction out of it? Who will suffer? The animals of course. Many shelters were burned down, many people suffered. But hardly anybody made such a public outcry as was the case with Stella Reid.  Why?

When an Organisation gets to the size of what Wildlife is today, it needs paid staff. People with experience in accountancy, legal matters etc to name but a few.  Of course they get paid out of the donations, how else would they get paid. How is that different to any other organisation?

I have commented on the article to the newspapers but my article was heavily censored and I have heard the same thing from other commentators.

To all at Wildlife Victoria, I congratulate you on the job that you are doing under very difficult circumstances. Without you many native animals would not be alive today.

Doris Morton
Proud member of Wildlife Victoria”

•    As posted on Leader Newspapers website:

Past Employee of WV writes:
Posted on 15 Dec 11 at 10:44am

I will confirm that Ms Reid had complete knowledge and was informed of the campaign being conducted by 6PR and was provided with the donated funds. How can I confirm this? 1) Because I personally receipted and coded each donation within the database to ensure this was allocated to Ms Reid 2) I contacted Ms Reid on at least two occasions to provide an update on her donations 3) I vividly recall providing letters and messages of support (from listeners of 6PR) to Ms Reid. I cannot comment on any other aspect or other comments written by readers. It was never a secret that funds were received for Ms Reid and her shelter. WV acknowledged in an open letter (placed on 6PR's website) and thanked listeners for their support (again I recall providing a copy of this to Ms Reid). The link is http://www.6pr.com.au/bobs-wildlife-victoria-auction/20090304-8o5k.html

There really are two sides to each story. I wanted to share my recollection of events, and I hope in the interest of a balanced story, my comment will be published)

•    As posted on Leader Newspapers website:

Not so naïve writes

Posted on 15 Dec 11 at 11:22am
I have a friend who works at Wildlife Victoria. While they are a paid employee they are extremely talented and could earn far more elsewhere. They are driven instead by an overwhelming passion for and commitment to caring for Victoria’s wildlife. They are dedicated, work long hours, are on call for rescues at any time and care about the donors. It is unrealistic to expect that any charity does not have operating and administration costs such as an office and some paid full time staff. I would not be comfortable making a donation to an organisation that had no accounting and book keeping processes in place.

•    Laurelle Erwin, Wildlife Rescuers volunteer (as featured in the Leader Newspapers story on 13/12/11)

“Members of the Wildlife Rescuers remain very grateful that we have the ongoing use of the Wildlife Victoria Mazda vehicles.  Their use makes the transporting possible of the larger animals to Healesville and carers etc as our own cars are often completely unsuitable for the task. 

All of us joined Wildlife Rescuers and Wildlife Victoria as volunteers with no expectation that we would be paid or otherwise financially rewarded so the petrol reimbursement is a very welcome bonus.”