Making animal pouches with love

The images on our nightly news about the devastation and loss of lives caused by Australia's ongoing bush-fires has been heart-wrenching, but the outpouring of help that has come from all around the world to help Australia has been amazing and heart-warming. It really gives us hope for the future when the world comes together at a time like this. Thank you to all those who have helped.

The news of our bush-fires has obviously gone right around the world. Generous help has come in the form of monetary donations which is being directed to aid community recovery. 

The work being done by firefighters, volunteers, armed services, rescue organisations, medical teams, and ordinary citizens in the fire zones has been incredible.  Thank you.

Thousands of our wildlife (they estimate 1 billion) have also been killed, injured or left homeless. People from around the world have been getting together to make much needed items for our wildlife in crisis. I saw a post the other day about a group of 100 in Iceland knitting for our wildlife. Daily I have seen stories such as this.

You can see some of what is happening and how you can help here at Animal Rescue Craft Guild
and also here  Hello Care
And a little video of what carers are doing: Caring for baby joeys

Today I joined a group making joey pouches for baby kangaroos that have lost their mothers. The pouches are designed to mimic their mother's pouch. It felt good to be able to do something practical to help. 

Below are some of what is being made by people all over the world: 
Sewers: Joey and possum pouches, hanging joey pouches, bat wraps, koala mittens, quilts and blankets.
Crocheters: Birds nests, blankets, joey pouch outers, animal jumpers.
Knitters: Blankets, joey pouch outers,  animal jumpers.
Woodwork - possum boxes  

This is one of the joey pouches I made. There are a few different pattern designs. I should have hung it up so you can see it better.  A rod goes through the top part to hang it up.

Here is how they look in action. So cute.

But more help is needed. I have just read:
There is nothing to eat for the surviving animals. Everything is burned.
So we have to keep scaling up. Every month we will be spending $27,450 to get food, medical, and other items to over 140 carers and feeding stations up and down the firezones. Animal Rescue Craft Guild

I'm taking a little blogging break this week, other than to say there is so much heartbreak, devastation and strife around the world today, please take time out to treasure the natural beauty of our world around us before it is too late. And do what you can to safe our fragile earth.

 This week I have borrowed the animal photos from the net. 

Thank you so much for stopping by. Thank you for your thoughts on my blog last week. I really appreciated your kind words of support. 

I value your comments and look forward to hearing from you. I will try to visit your blogs in return. Have a wonderful week. 
I am linking up to the link-ups below. Please click on the links to see fabulous contributions from around the world - virtual touring at its best!
   
All Seasons
MosaicMonday at Letting Go of the Bay Leaf
Our World Tuesday
Pictorial Tuesday 
ThroughMy Lens 
Image-in-ing
My corner of the world through my camera 
Wednesday Around the World at Communal Global hosted by Randomosity.
The Lovin' Life Team over at: Deep Fried Fruit

Hello there! I love reading your comments. If you scroll down to the bottom you can comment too! I would love to hear from you.

Camping in the beauty that are Western Australia's National Parks

I am sharing with you my latest article in print - "Park Yourself" - published in Australia's "On The Road" magazine, February 2012 - about camping in the beauty that are Western Australia's National Parks.  My special thanks to Paul Harrison for his images and details about camping in the Francois Peron National Park at Shark Bay, and to Jennifer Harrison for her images and information about camping in Karlamilyi National Park (formerly Rudall River) in the northern Pilbara, and Cape Le Grand and Cape Arid National Parks east of Esperance.

Here is the opening image - the road into Carawine Gorge in the Pilbara east of Marble Bar.

 The article starts -

The stars of the Milky Way shine down on us like a million sparkling diamonds on a cloth of black velvet. The Aboriginal people have many dream-time stories about the stars and how they came to be there, but I am just enjoying the peace I find sitting here in my camp chair gazing up at the universe above.

We are camped in the Karijini National Park in the heart of Western Australia’s Pilbara region, just one of around 164 National Parks and Reserves that spread across the far corners of Western Australia. The WA Department of Environment and Conservation (DEC) manages more than 27 million hectares of national parks, marine and conservation parks, State forests, nature and recreation reserves containing some of the States' most stunning natural treasures and an extensive network of camp sites and walk trails.  Their location ensures you can experience coral reefs and pristine beaches, towering forests and tumbling rivers, mountain ranges and savannah, sand dunes and deserts, rugged gorges and wilderness areas and a chance to escape from the stresses of modern urban living.

Western Australia is one of the most biologically diverse regions in the world and the south-west is the only recognised terrestrial biodiversity hotspot in Australia. Shark Bay, Ningaloo and Purnululu have World Heritage status.

Whist not all Parks allow camping, or camping is restricted to designated sites, many maintain walk trails with interpretive signage that helps you learn about the environment. Some Parks charge a daily visitor entry fee, or camping fee, so the most economical way is to purchase an annual or four week holiday pass.  All park fees go to park maintenance and facilities or the provision of new safety equipment. Some parks have camp-hosts during busy periods.

 Here is the original image that was used in the opening spread -

 another image from the article - camping in the Warren National Park in Pemberton

 Ningaloo Reef, Exmouth, Cape Range National Park

 In the article I talk about National Parks from the Kimberley, through the centre, and down the coast 

all the way to the Eucla National Park on the edge of the Great Australian Bight.

To read this full article, please buy "On the Road" magazine -February 2012 edition.

 Ontheroad.com.au/archive/2012/2012-02

 You might also like - please click on the links - 

Walpole Wilderness

 On the Road in the Kimberley

hopetoun-fitzgerald-river-national-park