Boral Timber pitches in for a new wildlife hospital on KI.

After bushfires destroyed a third of Kangaroo Island over summer, help was urgently needed to get many businesses and organisations up and running again. For the Kangaroo Island Wildlife Park, that came in the shape of some reasonably famous faces.

At the start of February, a team of volunteers, including hosts and former contestants of Channel Nine’s The Block, worked tirelessly to build a brand new wildlife hospital on the bushfire-ravaged island in record time.

Erected with the expertise of The Block’s foreman Keith Schleiger and contestants Spence Thomson, Kerrie Charter, Lysandra Fraser and Matt and El’ise Bothe, along with some 40 locals who donated their time and skills, the finished building consists of one large treatment room, including cage area and kitchenette, plus a laundry and other services. It was unveiled live on breakfast television program, The Today Show.

The hospital will help Sam and Dana Mitchell, who run the Kangaroo Island Wildlife Park, to be better equipped in their animal conservation efforts. Since the fires, the couple has rescued almost 600 koalas. At one stage, dozens were sharing their home, with some unwittingly being decorated with stickers by their infant son. The hospital is already being used as a treatment and recovery facility for wounded wildlife and will be a vital part of readying many animals for their return to the wild.

The donation is part of Boral Timber’s ongoing commitment to help conserve and protect Australia’s koala population. Other initiatives include the provision of three koala fodder plantations near other animal hospitals, totalling 5000 trees so far.

The donated Spotted Gum timber features as the external cladding of the building as well as the decking. All Boral Timber products are Responsible Wood Chain of Custody certified which guarantees the timber is sourced from sustainably managed and legal forestry.

“As a proud Australian business, Boral is committed to supporting its neighbours and the broader community,” says Leon Travis, general manager of sales and distribution, Boral Timber. “We were glad to donate decking and cladding for the new wildlife hospital, which will help to save hundreds of native animals.

“It’s important that we all pull together to help rebuild communities. We are happy to lend a hand wherever we can.”

For further information visit www.boral.com.au/timber or call 1800 818 317.