Helping hands: Patrick Phillips, at front, and Peter O’Brien get to work on repairs at Jirrahlinga Koala and Wildlife Sanctuary.
ERIN PEARSON
ALCOA staff have swapped suits for spades to help clean up a Barwon Heads animal sanctuary after fire ripped through its koala hospital last month.
Jirrahlinga Koala and Wildlife Sanctuary Director Tehree Gordon said Alcoa volunteers spent the day weeding, planting, painting and cleaning to help put the sanctuary back on track.
The volunteers gained as much fulfillment from the day as the sanctuary, she said.
“The input from the employees at Alcoa not only assisted in building a memorial for the lives that were lost but gave our sanctuary staff a chance to help others understand our work and devastation caused by the fire,” Mrs Gordon said.
“They all had such a fantastic attitude and absolutely boosted the moral of the staff here who’ve been very flat since the fire. We’re extremely grateful because it really helped the Jirrahlinga staff move on.”
Fire ripped through Jirrahlinga’s koala hospital in July, killing six marsupials.
Workplace volunteering coordinator BacLinks helped put 13 Alcoa employees to work.
BacLinks’ Sheree Holdsworth said both organisations wanted to help after reading about the fire.
“We strongly believe in the amazing difference that can be made through local business supporting community groups in need,” she said.
“The volunteers poured their hearts and souls into the day and really made a huge difference. Jirrahlinga does such a great job rehabilitating animals and educating the community about animals, so the volunteers were all itching to help.”
