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Steve
has been involved with wildlife, since the 2009 Victorian, "Black
Saturday" bush fires. He was inspired by a burned and dehydrated
kangaroo, which had made its way onto the property where he
worked. When the suffering fire victim had drank water from
his hands, Steve became determined to do what he could to help.
Steve
and his wife, Liz, started out by transporting pet and stock
feed to fire victims, until they could do their first basic
rescue training course. Having completed the initial, necessary
courses, they quickly gathered experience on the fire-ground,
by feeding and rescuing the starving wombat populations of the
desolated mountain ranges, as well as learning to assess injured
kangaroos both on and off the fire ravaged areas.
Wanting
to gain experience and knowledge of as many different species
as possible, they soon became members of Wildlife Victoria,
taking any rescue calls they could. Since then, they have been
working with possums, birds and reptiles of whatever species
is offered them, and is within their capability to care appropriately.
As
an ex-hunter, Steve has been able to use his hunting knowledge
and firearms licence for the benefit of our native wildlife,
rather than for the destruction of the mainly introduced species
which he used to hunt.
Seeing
all species as of very extreme importance to their natural environment,
he's also become licensed as a Venomous Snake Handler, and is
trying to reach past people's fear, to reduce the number of
snakes which are killed by people, and teach others how to live
more comfortably with snakes.
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