Shoppers give support

By Tania Martin
TWO hills wildlife warriors are now reaping the rewards of a community benefits program.
Emerald IGA last week presented much needed cash to Macclesfield’s Shangri-La Wildlife Shelter and a plaque to the Emerald-Monbulk Wildlife Shelter.
The plaque recognised the Kallista shelter as a member of the IGA community benefit scheme and Shangri-La was presented a $1700 cheque which was donated as part the program.
The Community Benefit Scheme donates one per cent of customers’ bills towards the charity of their choice.
All customers have to do is fill in a form to join and say who they want to donate to.
Then each time a customer shops at IGA they swipe their benefit card or key-chain and the proceeds will go towards their charity.
Emerald-Monbulk Wildlife Shelter’s Carol Seeger said the cash was a great support.
She has been in the program for more than two years and has netted more than $10,000.
Ms Seeger said the extra cash had been a fantastic support this year.
“We’ve never been as busy as we are now because of the fires,” she said.
“It’s not just for this shelter but others in the area who need help.”
“We couldn’t have done it without the help.”
Shangri-La’s Rodney Hudson-Davies said IGA not only invited the shelter to join the program but also helped out with food donations for the animals during the fires.
He said the extra food supplied by IGA had been magnificent.
The Shangri-La team spent weeks after the fires dropping off food to injured wildlife in the Yarra Valley.
Mr Hudson-Davies said this was one of the only ways to save some of the animals.
“A lot of the ’roos we did pull out and try to save didn’t make it,” he said.
“There were so many that were hopeless.
“They had nothing left of their feet so we had no choice but to euthainse.”
“Those who did survive the initial heat had nothing left to eat so we did what we could,” Mr Hudson-Davies said.
Mr Hudson-Davies said the team finally pulled out of the rescue mission nine-weeks after the fires.
“We had to pull out – it was emotionally destroying us,” he said.
Mr Hudson-Davies said the community benefit scheme, which they joined at the end of February had already been a great help.
“Anything that helps is great,” he said.