Minton Farm Animal Rescue Centre

Ms COOK (Fisher) (15:23): One of the most common reasons for people contacting my office is to ask for support in relation to animal welfare issues. I am a lifelong lover of animals and want to make sure that we keep our animals as safe as possible. I assure all constituents who contact me I will do my utmost always to support the protection of animals.

It was great recently to visit Minton Farm Animal Rescue Centre and see the fantastic work they do looking after sick and injured wildlife. Minton Farm is located in Cherry Gardens. This non-profit, non-government organisation has been caring and rehabilitating sick animals since 1992. On the goodwill of the community, grants and volunteer time, Minton Farm shelters and provides veterinary assistance to animals from right across the state. Minton Farm has an international reputation, having received an IFAW or International Fund for Animal Welfare award.

Each year this amazing team is responsible for hundreds of animal rescues and overall has rescued nearly 10,000 animals in their ICU, with more than a third of them being there secondary to attacks by domestic cats. The primary objective of the organisation is to educate and enrich the lives of community members through the rescue and care of injured and orphaned native animals and birds, the aim to rehabilitate and release rescues as soon as possible into their territories with the best interests of the species in mind. They also offer advice to members of the public who find injured wildlife. Some quick tips I discovered from their brochure was to try to warm the animal to 30 degrees and keep it in a dark and quiet place. They also recommend that people seek expert help as soon as possible.

When I arrived in Minton Farm I was greeted by a very friendly group of volunteers and shown into the centre. The volunteers come from a range of backgrounds and volunteer for a number of reasons, but they share a common love and interest in animals and a desire to make a huge difference in the lives of the lucky creatures that find themselves there. Many university students and people trying to gain confidence to support entry into the workforce volunteer there, as well as people with just a few hours to spare a week.

Bev Langley has a background in primary school teaching and has also worked with a number of veterinarians. She is a consummate earth mother. Her affect is calm and nurturing and there is no question that she is in her perfect place among her animals. She showed me the incredible amount of first aid supplies that they will get through over spring, which is the busiest time of the year. Rather than go to waste, partly used packets of clean dressings and syringes and other supplies with slightly damaged packaging are donated by hospitals, which save them thousands of dollars per year. While quiet at this time of the year, their rescue intensive care unit is impressive and has pieces of equipment that I can see have been adapted or modelled on neonatal unit or retrieval service equipment that I have used myself on people in intensive care. It is truly fascinating.

I then went on to an incredible and heart-warming tour of the animals. Many of them come to Bev like she is their mother. It is an amazing experience to have kangaroos standing face-to-face with you licking your cheeks or trying to fashion a pouch out of your dress. Yes, a six-foot kangaroo trying to fashion a pouch out of your dress is a very interesting concept. I think the most intimidating of all was a walk through the emus. I really think they have forgotten that they are emus and they certainly do not resemble the emus that my sheep-farming friends have told me can be so brutal to their stock. These emus actually want to hug you. They put their heads on your shoulder and happily walk alongside you. It is just an amazing experience.

I saw the mandatory joeys yet to grow their fur and incredible birds of prey, one missing part of its wing after being hit by a truck. If I remember correctly, Bev drove for eight hours up north to meet with the rescuer of this bird and bring it back to Minton Farm. This is just one of many stories of dedication.

I met a very large pig that is living out his days with chickens, ducks, cows, sheep, alpacas and many other farmyard animals alongside the native wildlife. Older than 15 and possibly not prime for anything else other than being a friend to Bev, he is definitely starting to struggle. He is a friend and in fact a confidant to Bev, who has daily conversations and, of course, a hug with this big guy. Philosophically, she admits that his days are numbered and when she sees that he is distressed, she will help him on his way.

Minton Farm is still housing animals from the Sampson Flat bushfires that are recovering from severely burnt paws and are unlikely to ever be released. They live at Minton Farm in what is high-risk bushfire territory. As we race towards a predicted catastrophic bushfire season, please support their amazing work by donating via their website. Donations of cash, medications, seed and supplies are most welcome. The website is mintonfarm.org. You could even offer to volunteer. It is truly one of the great treasures in our community.