Melbourne Wildlife Sanctuary staff, volunteers from the Friends of the Wildlife Reserves and the JCV will conduct an indigenous flora planting day on the Sanctuary on Sunday, 17 June, from 10am to 12pm.
Mr George Paras, Head Ranger of the Sanctuary, said other volunteers from the local community are invited to assist. The day will also provide them with a chance to inspect the Sanctuary. Volunteers are asked to arrive at the Melbourne Wildlife Sanctuary at 9.30am – dressed for planting!
‘The contribution of volunteers to the Sanctuary project helps La Trobe University’s goal of protecting the region’s diverse flora and brings us closer to our aims of introducing rare fauna.’
Dr Shigeaki Hinohara (Order of Culture), Aged 95 years young and Chairman of the New Elder Citizens League in Japan, is committed to providing a legacy of habitat because trees will survive past the 100 years of our current generation.
Mr Paras says the JCV and Dr Hinohara agreed to plant 1,000 plants over five years. They are also contributing to the Sanctuary’s main fund-raising project – a predator-proof fence – to ensure that Australians have a lasting legacy of native habitat.
The predator-proof fence will keep out foxes and other pests, and combined with the efforts of the Friends of the Wildlife Reserves – who hold regular working-bees, volunteer days and fundraising projects – create a safe habitat for animals like bandicoots and quolls.
The Friends of the Wildlife Reserves working-bees are held regularly and are also open to members of the public and University staff and students.
Friday, 15 June 2007Bringing back bandicoots and quolls - Joint conservation effort at La Trobe wildlife sanctuaryLa Trobe University and the Japan Club of Victoria (JCV) are creating a new habitat for Australian native animals in Melbourne’s north – at La Trobe University’s Melbourne Wildlife Sanctuary, on the main campus at Bundoora.- For information about the Japan Club of Victoria contact Mari Heazlewood on 9397 8421
- For information about the Melbourne Wildlife Sanctuary contact Andrew Stocker, Education & Information coordinator on 9479 1206
- For information about the Friends of the Wildlife Reserves Inc. contact Shirley Gates on 9466-9292