Secretary’s Notes

Aaagh, the middle of Winter! So cold getting up in the mornings to do joey feeds, I quickly jump back into my warm cozy bed afterwards. Hope you are keeping warm. We’ve had a lot of Eastern Grey Joeys coming in over the last month and our transporters are busy getting them to carers with space for them. A big thank you to our transporters who travel for up to 6 hours to get joeys to their new home. Please, if you are traveling at dusk and dawn, slow down and keep aware of kangaroos. Make sure you let your family and friends know as well.

Remember membership fees are now overdue. If you haven’t renewed your membership, please do so soon. I will be sending out reminder letters in August to those not paid. Membership fees are an important part of our fundraising efforts.

We still have some WRIN polo shirts available for $35 each. Sizes in stock are Small, Medium and large. Contact me if you wish to purchase any.

Our next General Meeting will include the Annual General Meeting. All positions will be up for nominations. So please consider if you or a member you know would make an appropriate Committee Member. Positions open are President, Vice President, Treasurer, Secretary and 2 x Ordinary Committee Members. I have included a nomination form below; these are to be handed in to me by 1^st August 2026. Nomination forms will be available at the meeting. If you have the time, we would love to see you at the meeting to vote for your preference.

General Meeting June

We have had 8 membership renewals.
There is $382 left in the WIRES/Woolworths Food Support account to be used up to Brenda’s discretion.
WRIN is going ahead with Wildlife Awareness Month in October. So far, we have the Mandurang Festival on 11^th, a fundraiser at Star Cinema on 15^th, Bat Appreciation Week 24^th to 31^st. Jo to see if we can have a week at the Bgo Library with an information stall and some presentations. A possibility of having the National Flying Fox Forum in Bendigo in October as well.

Jo has asked Geoff Williams (Australian Platypus Conservancy) if he could be a speaker in October. Geoff is happy to attend but asked if WRIN could possibly pay for his petrol to attend. All agreed for WRIN to cover his petrol costs of $93.50.
WRIN will be purchasing 2 x HD 4G trail cameras with solar panel at $285 each.

The amount of $15,000 was transferred from the Term Deposit into the working account. Remainder of Term Deposit reinvested for 8 months at 4.4%.
We have received 2 x $50 gift cards donated by Bunnings Epsom.

Fundraising:

Maldon Market $180.50

Payments:

Maldon Stall, $16.50.
Merchandise _ Plush Toys, $645.70; Animal Repellers, $114.30; Magnets & Stickers, $158.25.
Wayne Hinds donation, $1,000.
2 x Telstra Bills, $82.90 & $86.90.
3 x Reimbursements totalling $930.25

Michelle reported on the meeting with CoGB councillors. Very happy with how it went. Gave an overview of what WRIN does, how we can work together moving forward and the importance of educating the public. Presenters were Michelle Mead, Jo Fischer, Brenda Argus and little joey Luka.
WRIN will be purchasing more polo shirts if anyone would like one, please advise Brenda of size required.

Wildlife Movements

Kangaroos and wallabies are on the move, please be on the lookout for them during the icy, misty mornings and misty nights. Lookout for kangaroo signs; slow down in areas you know kangaroos are known to be. Wombats are also out and about. Winter being their peak mating season. Usually seen in the Sedgwick, Sutton Grange and Axedale areas.

Sugar Gliders require large old trees which provide the necessary hollows for shelter and nesting.  Unfortunately, across much of its range the large old trees are confined to roadsides which means many populations of are dependent on roadsides for their survival. During Winter the Sugar Gliders diet of nectar, pollen and insects is low and they need to forage further than usual. Opening them up to increased danger of human interaction and predators.

Brush-tailed Phascogales or Tuan males maybe found lethargic or looking sick as Winter is the end of their breeding season at which time the male dies from exhaustion

Echidnas breeding season starts in Winter, so males are out and about looking for a mate. Please keep an eye out for them on roads and if you find one in your yard please leave them be and they will move on in a short time. Also, if you have dogs, keep the dogs inside for an hour to allow the echidna to move on. If you happen to hit an echidna on the road, make sure you get it to a vet or ring your local wildlife rescue group. An echidna’s nose is very sensitive and will need to be x-rayed for fractures.
Platypus also start breeding at the end of Winter, so if you’re out fishing the rivers keep an eye out for one.
*Remember accidents happen! Always report accidents involving wildlife to your local rescue group even if they run or hop off. They may be found a short distance away with horrific injuries.*

Central Victorian Bat Alliance (CVBA)

Central Victorian Bat Alliance Update (CVBA) has enjoyed a quiet Winter thus far with our 2026 pups now independent flyers and foragers. Mating season finishes in May, the numbers of bats in our nationally significant maternity camp in Rosalind Park have decreased – many bats migrate North to warmer climates. Many of the pregnant bats will ‘Over-Winter’ in the local area before having their pups later this year and into 2027. CVBA is building the capacity of our members by offering new projects and training including the Bat Buddy Program, the Flying-fox Mapping Project, the NCCMA citizen science project and community radio training with Phoenix 106.7FM for those wishing to participate in CVBA’s bi-monthly ‘Bats and Banter’ radio show.

We continue to advocate for bats in our community and are planning a discrete project throughout 2026-2028 seeking removal of barbed wire across our municipality, should you have rescued a Flying-fox from barbed wire at any time please get in touch as we are trying to map local Hot Spots for barbed wire entanglements – watch this space.

We are expecting another very busy pup season due to the fact that many of our pups this year have been compromised as young, orphaned pups during severe heat stress events that saw thousands of female adult Flying-foxes perish. The population will take time to regroup over years and will need our ongoing staunch commitment and fearless advocacy going forward.

CVBA met with Gaelle Broad MP on a Bat Walk and Talk to advocate for the Grey-headed Flying-foxes in Rosalind Park. We presented evidence-based information to debunk myth and misinformation and intend to invite other politicians, local councilors, community leaders, teachers and community groups to the same Bat Walk and Talk in 2026 and beyond.

We enjoyed the book launch at Castlemaine Library of Among the paper daisies Writings on ecology and being by local wildlife ecologist Dr Emmi Van Harten; the chapter called Learning from Bats is inspiring! Emmi’s book is a gorgeous golden gem offering us time to rest and reflect in Nature, kudos to Emmi.

‘Bats and Banter’ is seeking wildlife stories to share on community radio – if you have a great story you would like to talk about on-air, please reach out.

For your Diary: please keep 21st and 22nd October 2026 free for the simply amazing National Flying-Fox Forum in Bendigo – details to follow. Our friendly meetings are held on the third Friday of every month at Kangaroo Flat Library, everyone is welcome. For all information, please contact secretary.cvballiance@gmail.com

Julie Sloan

Wildlife

Highly Infectious Avian Influenza

The H5N1 high pathogenicity avian influenza (H5 bird flu) is a highly contagious viral disease that can cause severe illness and death in poultry, wild birds and some other wildlife species. Human cases are rare and not easily transmitted between people.

H5 bird flu has been detected in a small number of individual vagrants, migratory birds in other Australian states. Currently, there is no evidence of any mass mortality in wildlife or spread to other animals, and no detection of this strain in Victoria. This strain is more concerning than previous strains, as it not only causes mass mortality in poultry but also in wild birds and some mammals. This strain is different from the HPAI H7 strains that have recently been detected on Victorian poultry farms.

H5 bird flu has been spreading across the world since 2021, infecting hundreds of species of wild birds and more than 50 species of mammals.

Based on experiences in other parts of the world, if the virus enters Victoria, it is likely that there will be substantial wildlife deaths.

There is no effective treatment for H5 bird flu and the prognosis for animals with the disease is poor.

Those animals that survive are usually in poor condition and may continue to shed the virus, which poses a risk to other animals.

Although any bird species can become infected, bird groups associated with water are highly susceptible and this includes ducks, geese, swans, gulls, terns, shorebirds, seabirds, pelicans, herons, ibis, cormorants and penguins. Species that live in large colonies of a single species are particularly susceptible.

Predatory birds and scavenger species are also at risk due to the high likelihood they might consume infected animals.

Infected animals experience rapid deterioration in health and can die from the effects of the virus within a matter of hours to days.

Avian influenza rarely spreads to humans but may occur if there is close contact with infected birds, droppings or heavily contaminated environments. Further information can be found on the Victorian Department of Health website.

The most critical indicator of H5 bird flu in wild birds and wildlife is sudden death.

Other signs of H5 bird flu in wild birds are:

• lack of coordination, tremors, swimming in circles
• twisted neck or other unusual posture
• inability to stand or fly
• diarrhoea
• difficulty breathing, coughing or sneezing
• swelling around the head, neck and eyes
• cloudiness or change in colour of the eyes.

Reporting will be key to the early detection of H5 bird flu in Victoria.

What to do if you find sick or dead wild birds or wildlife with signs of H5 bird flu.

• AVOID contact with sick or dead wild birds or wildlife and their environment
• RECORD what you see
• REPORT to DEECA  or call the Emergency Animal Disease Hotline on 1800 675 888 in line with the guidance below.

Report clusters of 5 or more sick or dead wild birds of any species, anywhere in Victoria.

Report even one sick or dead:

• wild seabird, waterbird, shorebird or bird of prey
• marine mammal (e.g. seal, sea lion, dolphin).

Following a report, DEECA will evaluate the need for diagnostic testing for further investigation.

The Department of Environment, Energy and Climate Action (DEECA) is the Control Agency for managing emergency animal diseases, the department is the lead for Victoria’s emergency response to an H5 bird flu incursion.

We are also working closely with government agencies, land managers, the wildlife welfare sector, Traditional Owners and other relevant organisations to prepare for a potential H5 bird flu detection in Victoria.

There are limited options for responding to the potential impacts of H5 bird flu on wildlife.

Our extensive emergency preparedness activities have included:

• identifying and prioritising at-risk species and locations and developing preparedness and response plans
• investing in improved biosecurity measures at wildlife facilities that house important captive populations of priority threatened species.
• working with the Commonwealth, states and territories over the past two years to prepare for a potential detection of the highly contagious disease
• implementing actions that reduce other threats (e.g. controlling introduced predators, herbivores and weeds) to help build resilience in at-risk species and at priority locations
• establishment of a wildlife-focused Victorian Agency Expert Advisory Group to advise on risks and priorities for wildlife, threatened species and culturally important species.

In addition to the above advice, it is important for wildlife shelters and foster carers to be aware of the following.

• It is important to ensure you are complying at all times with your authorisation conditions, including the requirement to quarantine wildlife coming into your care. More information on how to comply with this and other conditions can be found in our Wildlife Rehabilitator Authorisation Guide and Victorian Wildlife Rehabilitation Guidelines.

• Moving sick or dead birds or wildlife that are infected with H5 bird flu could spread disease and put you and other wildlife at risk. Always wear personal protective equipment when handling at-risk species, including gloves, face mask, goggles, coveralls and footwear that can be cleaned (such as gumboots).
• Maintaining good biosecurity processes minimises the likelihood that the disease may spread from wild populations to animals already in care.

Department of Environment, Energy and Climate Action (DEECA)