By Dongyun Kwon
The Judith Eardley Save Wildlife Association (JESWA) is keen to recruit volunteers to help set up another charity Together for Wildlife (T4W).
T4W is an idea of charity to raise funds for wildlife.
JESWA manager Peter Hannaford said the funds raised in the Yarra Valley would go to Yarra Valley charities for wildlife and the environment.
“We’d go and ask them [charities] to apply for funds saying how they would want to use them,” he said.
“After they’ve used them, we want it on their website showing how they spent it.
“It’s gonna be a true accountable charity.”
Membership for T4W would be recruited on social media with a $10 fee.
Once the numbers for membership are high enough, the T4W team would seek to recruit business members who would provide discounts to T4W members.
Mr Hannaford said if T4W is successfully established, a Torch of Concern for Wildlife Relay would be planned.
“Hopefully, running and walking would be done around school ovals with pupils being sponsored per lap,” he said.
“Every runner or walker would be asked to raise $10 for membership. Parents could use the membership discount.
“The torch relay would not impinge on school timetables as it would visit schools before school starts, during lunch breaks, or after school. It would last for 20 minutes.”
Mr Hannaford was a PE teacher and said children need to run more.
“If T4W online gets going and we go to the Torch of Concern, we could think about contacting Diabetes Australia and ask if they want to come. And [we’ll] also [contact] Beyond Blue because there’s a lot of big need for psychological help for kids in school,” he said.
“Landcare groups are also welcome to fundraise at the event.”
Mr Hannaford said he wants to expand the Torch of Concern for Wildlife Relay to other areas.
“We’ll do it in the Yarra Valley first and if it works in the Yarra Valley, it will work anywhere,” he said.
“It’s an idea with a huge potential and we’ve got to make it a reality.”
Volunteers are going to work to raise memberships through the various online formats like Facebook, Instagram, X and GoFundMe first.
“First, we need to establish a structure of volunteers and then a website. Then we try to get membership up in as many ways as possible,” he said.
“When we’ve got to get membership to a certain stage, then we can go and ask businesses if they want to join the scheme.
“After that, we would look at event management, perhaps a concert. But we can’t go for these things unless we establish it successfully.”
Anyone interested in being a volunteer for this project is encouraged to contact Mr Hannaford either call on 0456 401 761 or via email at peterphannaford@gmail.com
