Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisations are used to caring for vulnerable members of our society.
But recently the Victorian branch had a special guest, and members even had the opportunity at their regular meeting to have a naming ceremony, all thanks to the national Health and Culture Education Manager, Nean.
Nean is a wildlife rescuer for a local Wurundjeri shelter in her spare time. It was on her routine drive home that she saw an all-too familiar sight: a wombat which had been been killed by a passing car.
“Normally how it happens is... they come in through a vet or they come in through a call from another wildlife carer.
“Except, this one I saw myself. Someone hit the mum and I brought him in,” said Nean.
Upon inspection, Nean discovered the dead mother was carrying a joey.
Wally the Wombat with his favourite blanket. He will be cared for until he is old enough to venture out on his own. Source: Supplied
Courtesy of VACCHOS members, the little one was gifted the special name of 'Wally the Wombat', in a democratic process which included multiple rounds of voting before the final, unanimous decision.
The baby wombat even had an ‘official’ naming ceremony conducted by VACCHO CEO, Jill Gallagher.
Wally is not the first wildlife to be rescued by Nena: earlier in the year she rescued a baby joey named Bounce. Thankfully the VACCHO office is famous for its welcoming environment.
“Jill is pretty good, she lets me bring [Wally] in and keep him under the desk!"
Wally continues to be in the capable hands of wildlife rescuer Nean and she will remain his carer until he is able to live on his own.
VACCHO CEO Jill Gallagher holds another young member of the family, Bounce. Source: Supplied
“We just get up and feed him and handle him as little as possible at the moment, since he’s only just started getting hair.
“Normally they are in the pouch of the wombat for about 8 to 9 months, so he will be bottle fed until... [about] 12 months when he is re-released.”
Though he is already a beloved member of the VACCHO family, as the young wombat starts to get bigger Nena and her team will wean Wally off human contact so he may live happily in his natural habitat on Wurundjeri Country.
All VACCHO members are wishing Wally the Wombat a speedy return to the wilderness.
