In 2002 my partner Julie bought me six ducks of different domestic varieties to have on our small farm.
Over the first few years as the number of ducks on our property grew I developed an interest in avian care. I went on to do several courses in avian care and rehabilitation through Massey University. I have become a trained in Oiled Wildlife Responder through Massey Wildbase and spent a month in Tauranga as part of the rehabilitation response to the Rena Oil Spill. I am currently on the National Oiled Wildlife Response Team for NZ and the Pacific.
I had a good hand in developing with the Department of Conservation (DoC) the Minimum Standards for Birds Rehabilitators. I have been a board member, Vice Chair and Chair of Wellington SPCA and did a 3-month stint as voluntary CEO at Wellington SPCA when they recruited a new CEO.
I was involved in setting up WReNNZ (Wildlife Rehabilitation Network of NZ) and have been the Chair and a committee member of WReNNZ.
I have been an Ambassador for Massey Wildbase for over 10 years and came on board initially to assist with raising funds for their new Wildbase Hospital.
I set up Wellington Bird Rehabilitation Trust in 2010 to manage the financial side of our ever-expanding bird rehabilitation organisation and presently we take in over 1,000 birds a year.
We now have a small number of permanent residents including a number who need supportive care for the rest of their lives. I love birds and they are a big part of my life really.
