Werribee resident and zoo volunteer Gary King says he wasn’t really an animal lover before starting work for the zoo. “Now it has changed my thinking about wild animals,” he says.
What’s your connection to the local community?
I started volunteering at Werribee Open Range Zoo in October last year and am there twice a week. I retired from paid work but wanted to keep active so that’s what started my volunteering .
I spent the first four weeks cleaning and preparing giraffe bones for the “Walk Tall for Giraffes” children’s activity which involved the kids using the bones to put a giraffe skeleton together.
I’ve also been involved with horticulture by watering plants around the zoo and I went into the gorilla enclosure – while it was empty – and did mulching. I got to meet the gorilla afterwards, which was great.
I’ve assisted in the “Keeper for a Day” program and for the next three months I’m working with the “Ranger Kids” program which involves children visiting a mock African village at the zoo which has a vet hospital. The kids can dress up as medics or rangers and attend to the “sick” stuffed toy animals.
The zoo is a great place to volunteer because you get to do different things – I recently met a rhino and three servals which are the largest of the small cats [pictured].
What would you change in your neighbourhood?
I’d like to see more people in Wyndham become members of Werribee Open Range Zoo.
It’s so close to us and there’s plenty to see.
My wife and I often visit there on weekends and jump on a safari bus to look around.
What would you not change?
Presidents Park and the River Bend walk along Werribee River. My wife and I fly kites at Presidents Park and walk our dog, and the two dogs we mind, along the river. People come from the city to walk along the river, that’s how good it is.
I have never regretted coming to live in Wyndham and have no thoughts of leaving.
Where’s the best place for a feed?
We like to get takeaway from Golden Grill Turkish restaurant at Station Square in Werribee. The chicken kebabs are amazing! There are more restaurants in Werribee now and they’re all good along High Street.
