Dutch Thunder Wildlife Shelter owner Kylie Donkers with Rustoleum business development manager Jodie McConnell.
Photo by
Abby Green
A new volunteer initiative with Dutch Thunder Wildlife Shelter is teaching Cobram District Specialist School students valuable skills while supporting rescued wildlife.
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Dutch Thunder Wildlife owner Kylie Donkers said the shelter had been a community partner with the school for three years now.
“They've been doing our wildlife rescue kits, and they do a calendar each year to raise funds for us,” she said.
Mrs Donkers said the school approached her last year about more students wanting to help so they decided to set up a space for them to be able to do just that.
The students will be making up the wildlife muesli mix that will then be stored in bins for the shelter to use when needed, and Yarrawonga Bunnings donated the mixer.
“The students will also be sorting all the recycling and then dropping it off to the recycling place each week,” she said.
“The money they get from that they're going to take directly to the bank and deposit it.”
Dutch Thunder Wildlife Shelter owner Kylie Donkers spray-painting the caravan with students from Cobram District Specialist School.
Photo by
Abby Green
Mrs Donkers said it would teach the kids about handling money, alongside other important life skills.
“It also builds up a community relationship between the school students and local businesses,” she said.
“So that when the students come to doing their work experience and even looking for jobs, there’s that rapport there already.
“The idea is to get them outside too ... we’re so grateful to RACV for donating all the tables and chairs, we're hoping to make it into an outdoor classroom.
“I haven't told the kids yet but I've got a couch for them and in wintertime, we've got a little fire.”
Cobram RACV Resort administration officer Gail Galvin said employees volunteered for a day to help set everything up, clearing the area, building a fence and donating tables and chairs.
Mrs Galvin said RACV would continue to have a commitment to Dutch Thunder.
Cobram District Specialist School students are spray-painting a caravan as part of their new volunteer space at the wildlife shelter.
Photo by
Abby Green
“Just to see the kids’ faces at the end of their projects is absolutely amazing,” she said.
Alongside the tables and chairs, the students have an old caravan that will be used to store the muesli mix.
Mrs Donkers has encouraged the students to make the space their own, including by painting the caravan.
Rustoleum business development manager Jodie McConnell donated 48 cans of spray paint to Dutch Thunder for use on the caravan.
“It’s nice to help out charities, and it’s so good to see the cans being used successfully to brighten things up,” she said.
The students will volunteer every Monday and are looking forward to finishing painting the caravan.
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