Marilee Burtt with an animal she has rescued.
Camera IconMarilee Burtt with an animal she has rescued. Credit: Supplied/Elle Borgward

WildAmbo emergency call

Laura Tomlinson, Weekend CourierWeekend Kwinana Courier

Ms Burtt took her car to a local mechanic, which the Courier has chosen not to name, when she noticed an unusual noise.

After weeks without her car, Ms Burtt said the vehicle was returned to her in an abysmal state and she was forced to pay $1500 to the mechanic for the work.

She has been told the car now needs an entirely new engine before it can be driven again.

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‘I was in tears, I was devastated, I couldn’t stop crying, I felt as though it was the end of everything,’ she told the Courier.

‘WildAmbo is a part of my life, I just feel as though you may not be able to save a whole species with all the destruction of habitat we’re seeing, but you can help the animals that are already here.’

The community, led by Kwinana Residents Action Group with the help of Kearn’s Garden and Hardware, have rallied around Ms Burtt, forming a fundraising drive that has netted $150 in donations so far.

KRAG member Wayne Steegstra said the group would ‘dearly love’ to get Ms Burtt back on the road.

But repairs were expected to cost about $3000.

City of Kwinana Mayor Carol Adams said the city’s budget for offering funding assistance for services like WildAmbo had been exhausted for 2012-13.

‘A small contribution post 1 July 2013 though, is possible upon application from WildAmbo,’ she said.

‘We certainly sympathise with Marilee’s situation; however, as the city doesn’t deal with WildAmbo directly we can’t speculate on the effectiveness of her service.

Cr Adams encouraged Ms Burtt to work with the Department of Environment and Conversation, which is responsible for the welfare of local wildlife.