TEACHER’S AUSSIE BUSH ANIMAL PLAN
POUCHES MADE IN GRAMMAR SCHOOL TO AID STRIKEN ANIMALS
THE devastation to an entire eco system caused by the Australian bush fires has raised worldwide concern, not least here in Sligo.
One school has responded in its own small way to the plight of the many orphaned and wounded animals who have been displaced by the destruction of their habitat. This took the form of a unique ‘Sewing Bee’ where students and teachers in Sligo Grammar School dedicated an afternoon to making special pouches for baby kangaroos, wallabies and koalas.
Teacher Sandra Tiernan was the driving force behind the project.
“This is an issue very close to my heart”, she says. From 2001 to 2005 Sandra taught science in Kenthurst, New South Wales, Australia.
Although close to Sydney, the area is surrounded by bushland, and fire is a constant threat during the summer months. Sandra has seen, first-hand, the devastation caused by fire, as the school had to be evacuated in late 2003 because of bush fires.
“It takes months for the blackened vegetation to get going again”, she says, “and this year’s fires are particularly severe so it will take a long time for the native woodland to recover.”
Sandra has a special interest in animals and wildlife, and it was this that brought her to Australia in the first place.
“I decided to work in Australia because I was fascinated by the wildlife there which is unique on the planet. Marsupials, particularly interested me, so it really upsets me to see the plight of the baby kangaroos, wallabies, koalas and other marsupials who have lost their mothers to the fires,” she says.
This was the inspiration behind Sligo Grammar School’s Pouch Project.
Sandra contacted Australian animal rescue charities and arranged to supply specially made pouches to help the charities care for the wounded and orphaned animals.
The pouches mimic the marsupial pouch and provide the babies with comfort and warmth as they recover.
An afternoon ‘Sewing Bee’ was planned and two rooms were set up with sewing machines and work tables.
Students from 5 th year, along with several teachers, organised a production line, cutting fabric and sewing pouches.
By the end of the afternoon about 25 pouches were made to be sent to a central distribution hub in Sydney which will then send them to the many animal rescue charities in New South Wales. Alongside the Sewing Bee, the 5 th year students ran a bake sale to raise funds for some of the smaller rescue centres.
A total of €556 was raised and will be split between two small animal rescue centres in some of the severely affected areas, Cobargo Wildlife Sanctuary and Hanson Bay Wildlife Sanctuary. “I’m absolutely delighted with the response from staff and students to both the bake sale and the sewing bee,” says Sandra.
“And, of course the many parents and students who baked cookies and cakes for us!.
“Thanks also to those who donated fabric for the pouches. We couldn’t have done it without them all.”
The pouches will be sent to Australia immediately as will the money raised from the bake sale, and hopefully the efforts of Sligo Grammar School will make some contribution to the great work being done to help the flora and fauna of the Australian Bush.