By Jessica Micallef
Gisborne wildlife artist Lesley Rosochodski is using her creative talents to help orphaned and injured wildlife.
Rosochodski has teamed up with fellow artists Lisa Wilkinson and Kaye Taylor-Law to create an exhibition titled Nature … Wild, depicting rescued and orphaned animals.
Rosochodski said the artists hope to raise more than $500 for Macedon Ranges Wildlife Network and Five Freedoms Animal Rescue through the sale of their artwork at the exhibition.
“The heartbreaking sight of dead kangaroos along the roads made me determined to try and help wildlife rescue in the best way I could, which is through art,” she said.
“After meeting Helen and Manfred [Zabinskas] at Five Freedoms, I was overawed by their courage in the face of such sadness. I realised they needed all the support they could get because public support is vital to wildlife rescuers. This is how our exhibition was born.”
Mr Zabinskas, owner of Five Freedoms Animal Rescue, said he was grateful for the support from the artists.
“Wildlife rescue organisations receive no hands-on government funding,” he said.
“It costs $500 a week to run our shelter and we are unfunded but for the generosity of donors. Over 40,000 calls were logged at Wildlife Victoria last year. This shows the overwhelming number of animals attended by unfunded rescue organisations, however we are meeting a desperate need and we can’t turn our backs.”
The exhibition opens on Saturday, November 2 at B-MAC Gallery, 46/176 Main Street, Bacchus March from 10.30am.
The exhibition closes on Sunday, November 10. Free entry.
