28/07/2025
NORTHERN RIVERS WILDLIFE HOSPITAL
THE community-driven dream of establishing a hospital on public land to care for our precious wildlife here on the Northern Rivers was realised with an official opening and ribbon cutting ceremony in Wollongbar today.
The wildlife hospital is the culmination of more than a decade of work by local volunteers, including the late Tony Gilding OAM, whose vision I shared and supported by securing a $1.4-million election commitment towards building this fantastic facility.
I wish to congratulate other champions of this project – Treasurer and Volunteer Board Member Ninian Gemmell, Board Chair Madeleine Faught, leading Australian biologist and Macquarie University Honorary Research Fellow Dr Robert Kooyman, Chair of the Vet Advisory Committee Dr Megan Kearney, and Lorraine Vass AM.
I also recognise my Parliamentary colleagues, NSW Minister for Environment Penny Sharpe MLC, State Member for Ballina Tamara Smith and Sue Higginson MLC, who like me, will continue to support the valuable work being done by the NRWH. It was nice to catch up with Tamara, Sue and Ballina Shire Mayor Cr Sharon Cadwallader who celebrated the event.
