By Jessica Micallef
Manfred Zabinskas is a dedicated animal rescuer. The Trentham East resident chats with Jessica Micallef about his wildlife shelter and how many animals are in his care.
What is your connection to the Macedon Ranges?
I was born and raised in Melbourne and when I got married and started a family, I moved to the country and purchased a property in Greendale. I fell in love with the area and moved to Blackwood and now East Trentham. My current – and final property – is nestled deep in the forest in the Macedon Ranges which provides the idyllic setting to operate a wildlife shelter where our rehabilitated animals can be raised and released into the wild. I am a member of a fantastic group of people that form the Macedon Ranges Wildlife Network. To me, the Macedon Ranges provide great friends, a wonderful community, a beautiful environment and a fabulous lifestyle.
What are you passionate about?
I am passionate about animal welfare. I cannot tolerate any form of animal cruelty. Many human activities cause harmful impacts on our native animals and I feel compelled to do everything in my power to help animals in need of assistance.
What inspired you to open your animal rescue shelter?
I read an article in the local newspaper about a woman in Blackwood who operated a wildlife shelter where sick, injured and orphaned wildlife were taken into care for rehabilitation and rearing. I cut the article out and kept it under my phone in case I ever came across such an animal and needed to call for help. Many months later, I found an injured tawny frogmouth in my front yard and remembered the article … and I called and arranged to deliver the bird to the shelter. Upon arrival, I saw a bird of prey on the kitchen table, a cocky on the sink, wombats on the couch, kangaroos sprawled out in front of the fire and a plethora of other animals in various rooms and enclosures. I was so moved by the efforts to help these animals that I decided that this is what I needed to do with my life. That was about 30 years ago.
How many animals are in your care at your Trentham East shelter?
We currently have 13 kangaroos in our lounge room – five are small joeys in pouches and the others are larger joeys in various states of recovery. We recently conducted a gradual release of 26 kangaroos into the wild, many of which come back home every night for their dinner which allows us to monitor their progress.
There must be some challenges that you come across as a rescuer – what are they?
The number of calls for animal rescues is overwhelming. The challenge to somehow balance rescues with the need to earn a living, to build facilities and carry out jobs at the shelter, to get adequate sleep, to have a break, and to remain sane, is one that I am not currently winning.
What would people be most surprised to know about you?
I worked as a mechanical engineer for 26 years and I have a bachelor degree in environmental science. Now I rescue animals and pick up poo.
