Seth Hynes’s passion for books has been well catered for at the Judith Eardley Wildlife Shop. Pictured with Seth are Peter Hannaford, who founded the shop, and Jeanne Wilcox.THE Judith Eardley Save Wildlife Association, its centre situated prominently on the main street of Healesville, has been tireless, and nothing short of dedicated, in its nine years of extending support to wildlife charities and endangered species.
The latest material acquisition can often be too tempting for us to readily assist in saving endangered species, but Peter Hannaford and the association staff have resolved this distraction in a novel way.
One of only a few wildlife charity shops to be found in Australia, the Save Wildlife Centre gathers and sells second-hand books, CDs, records, clothing and collectables, directing every cent of the proceeds to nature reserves, admirable charities and other such ventures.
I have been a regular customer of the foundation store for more than five years, and rarely walk out of its doors without having found a book or record that utterly intrigues me, or one I simply cannot put down.
Lining every wall and packing each shelf are items and curiosities appealing to most interests, and the knowledge of your purchase leading to another life saved confers its own special kind of satisfaction.
Established in honour of psychotherapist and animal lover Judith Eardley (1939-1997), the association has amassed more than $1,350,000 since its inception, unswerving in its goal to “ethically support wildlife”.
Alongside its program to finance protection of the red-tailed black cockatoo, the association has diversified into selling over the internet (alibris.com or biblio.com), regulating a reserve in association with Friends of the Helmeted Honeyeaters and gathering welcome funds for the Orangutan Sanctuary in Java.
The foundation, however, still takes pride in its human approach, as its daily volunteers are always willing to strike up a conversation, accept a blessing or donation or share its hopes for wildlife preservation.
Moreover, the Save Wildlife Association has started an internet fundraiser for the salvation of numerous critically endangered animals. A minimum donation of $2 (for adults) may be submitted toward rearing gentle orangutans and shielding them from poachers, halting the indignity of farming sun bears for their bile, or breeding the helmeted honeyeater back to viable numbers.
Donors are given complete freedom in choosing the cause they want to support.
It is empowering to consider the sheer difference people can exert in the survival of a species, through just a mouse click and the price of a cup of coffee.
The Save Wildlife Foundation combines the joy of books and absorbing, unusual items with a noble cause few of us normally have the time, and/or means, to support.
This virtue alone has made the foundation a haunt of mine for years, but the admirable service each customer will provide to the survival of threatened species elevates every item far beyond its surface pleasures.
To assist and save our wildlife, that which cannot ask for help itself, visit the Save Wildlife Foundation store and donate to its honourable pledge. It will be worth your while in many more ways than one.
