Students knit special pouches for injured bushfire animals

A SYDNEY woman living in Trim who joined forces with a local secondary school to make special recovery pouches to help orphaned and displaced animals injured in the horrific bushfires that have ravaged Australia says she felt compelled to do something to help her home country.

As heartbreaking images ricocheted around the world of burnt and orphaned baby koalas, wombats and other native animals and birds displaced by flames that have devastated their habitats Pauline Dwyer who has been living in the area for nearly 20 years knew she had to take action.

Dance teacher Pauline responded to a call out from the Animal Rescue Collective Craft Guild of Australia who was soliciting the efforts of crafters worldwide to help sew, knit, and weave items for the injured animals that are then donated to rescue centres taking the animals in. 

After approaching Scoil Mhuire in Trim 'The Bushfire Pouch Appeal' became a project that the whole school got involved in that has seen students from 1st year to 6th year creating hundreds of protective pouches for wounded animals. Pauline explains the genesis of the project.

The students took 'The Bushfire Pouch Appeal' to their hearts

"It was devastating to see what was happening back home. I have relatives in Sydney that had to be evacuated from their homes so it really struck a chord.  

My cousin described it like going outside and breathing 35 cigarettes to go down to the shops because of the extent of the ash. She sent me photos and the whole sky was orange, it was horrendous.

"She was always on alert, they could get a text message in the middle of the night saying evacuate, she was sleeping with one eye open all of the time."

" At first it was the human bodies I was thinking of, friends and family but then the fires got so astronomically big that you were, unfortunately, seeing pictures of all of the animals of all shapes and sizes being burnt and suffering and others that had been orphaned even down to the little tiny baby bats.

"It was originally just a two-day project that I wanted to bring to the school but one of the teachers Monica Farrell took it on board and said we can do better than that.

Ozzie Pauline joined forces with the Trim school to make special recovery pouches for orphaned animals injured in the horrific bushfires

"When the animals are recovering from the burns they like to cosy up in these pouches to feel safe."

Monica Farrell, RE teacher and Young Social Innovator facilitator praised all involved.

"All wool and fabric used were repurposed and nothing had to be bought as students donated everything we used.   All of the fabric that we used was probably going to end up in a landfill. 

"The level of goodwill was second to none. We have an amazing cohort of students with fantastic support from home.

"Even grannies were recruited to share their stitching skills and have this project cross the generations. The past few weeks have given new energy to our Climate Ambassador Committee and our TY Young Social Innovators Climate Action Project.

The kind-hearted students have created hundreds of protective pouches

"The students loved doing it because it was a practical way they could help. They felt that camaraderie with each other that they were all working on a project together but they also thought there is going to be a Koala in this and I'm helping.

"I didn't have to draw on their heartstrings, the compassion and sympathy were there. They really wanted to do it

"These students are advocating that small changes in our lifestyle choices, can collectively make huge cumulative differences. At least wardrobes and hotpresses have had a good spring clean thanks to our Bushfire Pouch Appeal!"

"We are looking into ways we can send these pouches to Australia, of course, any support would be welcome."