Celivia, the first thing that needs to happen, is for some accurate
information to be made available online, about the real status
of the live export trade. Its around, but just not easily accessible
to well meaning people like yourself and Scout. That should change
now, give it a few weeks. Frankly its only recently that I became
aware about how much rubbish about the trade is being peddled
on the net, by people who mean well, but are as religiously zealous
and one sided about this, as Philo and BD are about religion.

No I don't support Wendy's campaign, as I feel its doomed to failure.
There are more realistic options happening out there in the real
world. If true believers like Benny etc actually kept up with what was
going on in WA ag, they would have read Farm Weekly and been
aware that T&R are trying to get another works opened, with
absolutaly no help from the State Govt. Kim Chance was against
the Fletcher facilitation, perhaps he doesent want to wear egg
on his face by helping T&R now. Its a sad story. If Benny rang
Chance's office and complained, he would achieve far more then
trying to preach to churches.

Labour is another issue. All 457 visas for meatworks have been
held up since April, because unions complained that workers were
doing various jobs like boning etc. What nonsense! I was told
by Wammco that all they need is people who actually turn up
for work each day, are not on drugs etc, they train them.
Aussies just don't seem to want those kinds of jobs anymore,
prefering cushy jobs.

These are REAL issues that can make a difference. I'll let others
do the fairyfloss dreaming, based on flawed and out of date
information.

Thank you Robert for your help...the shelter I have in mind will be on a smaller scale to cope with the wildlife in my area.
There are a couple of people who do it on a 1-2 animal basis and it may be I start that way too..until I have gained some experience..

My children love the idea and my 13yr old daughter wants to be a vet so shes all for it...

Celivia, yes thanks for your question..there is a lot of wildlife up this way..mainly orphaned wombats whos parent is killed by roadtrains, lizards, kangaroos etc...

But I always feel a bit panicked when I hear of orphaned or injured animals up here because Im sure that there are scant if in actual fact any facilities that could cope with an emergency...even the only overworked vet lives an hour away.

So Im visitng a lady tomorrow who is at present is caring for the most adorable 4 month old wombat William, youve ever seen..she may be able to help.

OZGIRL, some useful looking links at http://www.fauna-rescue-qld.org.au/links.html and some Qld info on getting into wildlife care

http://www.epa.qld.gov.au/ecoaccess/plants_and_animals/rehabilitation_of_sick_injured_and_orphaned_animals/rescue_and_rehabilitation/

I don't know what state you are in but a google search on - wildlife rescue queensland - turned up heaps of stuff.

Good luck with that. Something I'd love to do but I'm away from home for to many hours a day to make it work.

R0bert

OZGIRL, I posted too soon. If your in NSW the WIRES (NSW Wildlife Information and Rescue Service) links page is http://www.wires.org.au/links.htm

R0bert

Robert and Ozgirl.

great Work guys. Sorry Ozgirl i missed where you were.

Celivia all subs go to the board of Animal Welfare.

As I work with the RSPCA and AFIC I can tell you whats going on.

When the public hear about these so called new plants in the middle East and holding yards they need to know tHEY are paying for it.
Thats right Australian tax payers have been paying SUBS for live exports and to build holding yards to ages.

Its 50 50 funded by the indusrty and the tax payers.
No I am not kidding.
As a matter a fact I lost our men who were building a plant for us up here to the Middle East.

.Rodger Fletcher does not live export celivia. He is a very successful man who employs many staff.
All his meat leaves in a box.
He hates the live trade.
http://www.fletcher-international.com.au/

Celivia take A look,. He can make a go of it

Ozgirl, Robert is right with the details he provided about wildlife shelters. Here is Victoria people are required to first become a wildlife carer with an existing shelter before they can apply for a shelter permit. That ensures they build up some expertise in the care of animals - plus seeing if they can cope with the problems of injuries and having to euthanase animals which cannot be released. We run the Margo Kroyer-Pedersen Wildlife Shelter on our property and most of the time it's great. Sometimes it's hard dealing with the results of people's stupidity or deliberate cruelty!

Celivia, the NSW contact on the list I posted is an email address for the NSW Free Range Poultry Association, not a website. Don't think they have one.

I've noticed home brand free range eggs and chicken meat in Coles and Safeway. The eggs are supplied by major producers who do not meet the standards of the various State Free Range Associations. I'm not positive about the chickens and chicken meat, but there is tighter control over what constitutes a 'free range' chicken for meat purposes compared with eggs