Chair's Report 2024-25 AGM

CHAIR’S REPORT: A Year of Transformation at Esperance Wildlife Sanctuary Inc.

It is with immense pride and gratitude that I present the Chairman’s Report for Esperance Wildlife Sanctuary Inc. (EWS) for the period ending June 30, 2025. This year will forever be marked as the moment our long-term vision came to fruition, transforming our dedicated property into a comprehensive regional conservation and wildlife care hub.

A Year of Transformation: The Launch of the Hospital

The central achievement of the 2024–2025 year was the official establishment and opening of the Esperance Wildlife Hospital. This facility, which commenced operation in 2025, is a monumental accomplishment, fulfilling the urgent need for a dedicated, non-metropolitan wildlife hospital in Western Australia.

Thanks to the generous support of the DPIRD and the physical efforts and personal financial contributions of Lori-Ann Shibish and Colin Ingram, along with critical infrastructure donations from Southern Ports, the Shire of Esperance, and the Esperance Bay Rotary Club, the hospital is fully equipped to provide 24-hour emergency triage, stabilization, and advanced care.

In its initial weeks of operation, the hospital swiftly demonstrated its necessity. It admitted patients ranging from orphaned ducklings and raptors to disoriented seabirds and injured macropods. By the end of the financial year, we were already tracking toward a significant annual patient load, underscoring our vital role as a safety net for native fauna across the Goldfields-Esperance region.

Wildlife Rescue and Rehabilitation

While the facility is new, the work is ongoing. Our DBCA licensed volunteer carers continued to provide essential services throughout the year.

Key Operational Highlights

• Regional Reach: We provided expert triage and transfer support across a vast region, from the Nullarbor to Kalgoorlie to Hopetoun. Our team often worked in close partnership with Swans Veterinary Services and other wildlife care facilities.

  
  

• Penning Expansion: The construction of 100 square meters of specialized penning and a small flight aviary in late 2024 allowed us to increase our capacity for long-term rehabilitation and pre-release conditioning for larger birds.

  
  

• Capacity Building: Through DPIRD funding, we successfully ran two specialist training courses—Basic Handling and Rescue Techniques for Seabirds and Oiled Wildlife Response. Over 40 community volunteers were trained, significantly boosting regional preparedness for environmental emergencies. We also engaged with Scadden Primary School to teach students how to plant Hakeas.

  
  

Habitat Regeneration and Biodiversity

Our commitment to the land remains as steadfast as our commitment to wildlife. The EWS property, overlooking the Lake Warden wetlands, is an essential ecological corridor.

Planting Success

We continued our intensive revegetation program, focusing on strengthening the corridor between Lake Warden and Pink Lake. This year, we added 800 more native seedlings, mostly local endemic species. The three-year total now exceeds 3,000 native plants, including vital food sources for the endangered Carnaby's Black Cockatoo.

Weed Eradication

We maintained rigorous invasive species removal programs targeting Freesias, Gazania, Victorian Tea Tree, and bridal creeper. These efforts ensure the survival of the thriving native understorey, which now includes eight flourishing orchid species.

Water Security

The EWS is not connected to mains water and relies entirely on rainwater for its operations. In 2024, we improved our water security by adding five 14,000-litre rainwater tanks to support the hospital, plant nursery, and revegetation projects.

Miyawaki Method

Planning commenced in early 2025 for a targeted Miyawaki-style revegetation project. This method promises rapid, dense forest growth to further enhance the wildlife habitat in the coming year. Broad mulching of replanted areas occurred for the first time this year.

Education Extension

We engaged with Scadden Primary School to teach students how to plant Hakeas to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the devastating Scadden/Esperance Bushfires.

Financial and Governance Strength

EWS maintained exemplary standards of governance throughout the year. We are now fully registered with the ACNC as an Incorporated Association and were successfully granted Deductible Gift Recipient (DGR) status in June 2025. This critical endorsement ensures that our conservation mission can be sustained by making public donations tax-deductible.

It is important to acknowledge that the entirety of our operational, rescue, and regeneration work is powered by our dedicated team of 100% volunteers and board members. Their tireless efforts represent hundreds of hours of donated service, which is the true backbone of this association.

On behalf of the Board, I would like to acknowledge the untiring work of Lori-Ann and extend my profound gratitude to the Esperance community, our incredible volunteers, local partners (Swans Veterinary Services, Shire of Esperance, Bunnings), and all our major grant providers. Your support has transformed an aspiration into a tangible reality for wildlife conservation on the South Coast of Western Australia.

In conclusion, the Esperance Wildlife Sanctuary Inc. stands as a beacon of hope for wildlife conservation. Our achievements this year reflect the dedication and commitment of everyone involved. Together, we are making a significant impact on the preservation of our native species and their habitats.

Signed,

Colin Ingram

Esperance Wildlife Sanctuary Inc.