Sue's Roos Kangaroo Rescue-Rehab-Release

20/09/2025

Vale Nigel ❣️

Nigel was a local legend. A familiar face to many. He became reluctantly famous back in April after being chased by a dog, a moment that received media attention and was laughed off by some. But to those of us who knew him, he was far more than that fleeting headline.

I have known Nigel for most of his life. I named him when he was little after the wonderful vet at Wellington Village. Just like Dr Nigel, he was a gentle soul with a kind heart and just a touch of mischief.

Nigel spent most of his life in the National Park but discovered Emerson Park about 5 years ago. He loved it there with the lush grass, the whoolly bush and the thick scrub where he could hide and rest. He visited often.

Because Emerson Park sits in a residential area, Nigel was rescued and relocated back to the bush three times. But he always found his way back. This was his place. Sometimes, he even brought injured companions with him, instinctively knowing that we’d do what we could to help.

Last Saturday, something changed. Nigel left the park suddenly, in a panic, heading in the wrong direction toward Stud Road, somewhere he had never ventured before. He was antsy, moving quickly, darting in and out of courts and streets. I knew something was wrong. Rescuers searched for hours. The last confirmed sighting had him heading back toward Churchill. Later that day, someone reported finding blood on their driveway.

🦘

This morning, Nigel reappeared again, in a court he didn’t usually visit. I asked Paul to check on him. He found Nigel with broken toenails, bleeding and in distress. He called in a vet to tranquillise and assess him. Martha and Ian came to help. I rushed over.

A kangaroo can regrow toenails if the nail beds are intact, but sadly, the bones in both of Nigel’s toes were exposed and damaged. The only treatment option would be amputation, followed by months of recovery and ongoing care, even if this were possible, then we would have a kangaroo with no toes. He had also sustained a serious injury halfway down his tail, with swelling all the way to the tip. An abscess had formed in his mouth. This once strong, healthy boy had lost a significant amount of weight.

The decision was made. We took him back home and laid him to rest in the bush.

🦘

Nigel was a gentle giant. He kept his distance from people, never posed a threat, and won the hearts of so many in Rowville. In his own quiet way, Nigel helped foster a love and appreciation for kangaroos that our community didn’t even know it needed.

He was eight years old.
Goodbye, my beautiful boy.
I, along with many in Rowville will miss you and will shed a tear for you today.

16/09/2025

Alinta ❣️

I didn't get a chance to post about this little one who I named Alinta which is Aboriginal for fire/flame. Little Alinta was thrown from her Mums pouch on impact with a car, she hit the ground hard. Mum died instantly. The MOP scooped her up and called me immediately.

I took her to the VRH, she had swelling and nasty grazes on her hocks and toes, her tail had no feeling and was limp. Xrays showed her tail was compacted at the base but no breaks anywhere, so I brought her home.

I knew she wasn't right so met with the WV travelling Vets who took more Xrays and gave her some fluids. Her hock was bandaged and she returned to my shelter with an appointment in 3 days to change the bandage and reassess. There was not a lot of hope but we thought we would give her a week and see how she went.

That night she had horrible blood stained diharreah. I struggled to get anything into her for 2 days. Then all of a sudden she woofed down the next 2 feeds and had feeling and movement in her tail.

I had some hope for her but when it was time for her next feed she was limp and unresponsive, her little heart barely beating. There was obviously internal damage we couldn't see. She died in my arms, warm with a full stomach.

💔

When you know, you just know

16/09/2025

If anyone is looking for Rio baskets. These are at the Clayton super discount variety shop on Clayton rd, the store is a couple of doors up from the Grain store. Normal size Rio baskets are $11.50, small $4.50 and the man there is lovely!

🧺

Don't go to the other smaller variety store, woman there is extremely rude and wouldn't let me bring the pusher in. I was planning on spending up big there...
Big mistake. Big. Huge 👋 🤣

16/09/2025

Meet Millari - because you can never have too many kangaroos with Aboriginal names starting with M! 😁

Millari means outdoors in the Woi Wurrung language. This little 2kg bubba was found by a kind man, all alone, sitting at the base of a Gum tree. We are not sure of her story, how she got there or how long she had been there. There were no other kangaros around. Colin scooped her up, popped her in his jacket and called Wildlife vic.

Millari had a tiny cut on her nostril and a small amount of grazing on the pads of her feet, these have healed nicely. She was quite stressed but has settled in well and had a Vet check today.

05/09/2025

Janice has been quietly collecting and refunding cans behind the scenes. She has saved up $160 and asked what we needed. I sent her a shopping list a couple of hours ago and she just delivered all of this.

I have a new joey in care with diharreah, have done 8 loads of washing, used 1 box of tissues and 1 pack of wet ones in 44hrs.

And Janice bought a special treat for me!

Thankyou Janice King

05/09/2025

This is truly heartbreaking. Two kind and compassionate people have lost their lives while trying to help an injured kangaroo. My deepest condolences go out to their families during this devastating time.

To all wildlife rescuers - please stay safe out there and take every precaution. Our work is vital but our safety must come first.

To all road users - if you see a rescuer stopped on the roadside assisting an injured kangaroo, please slow down. We risk our lives every day to help these animals.

The “slow to 40km/h for flashing lights” rule must be extended to officially include wildlife rescuers. We also need the authority and proper training to manage traffic safely while doing our work.

Police say the two women were struck by a vehicle on the Hume Freeway at Craigieburn on Thursday night.

Read here: http://ab.co/467HQDJ

Choose your news on the ABC NEWS app and stay in the know: https://ab.co/abcnewsapp

28/08/2025

Prison term and fine for exploiting wildlife.

On the 1st of August 2024 Conservation Regulator officers assisted our federal colleagues from Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW), executing a search warrant in Melbourne.

Last week, the accused faced court on both state and federal charges over the illegal trade and export of wildlife domestically and internationally. He was sentenced to two years and ten months in prison, with a minimum of 12 months for the federal offending.

As part of the investigation Conservation Regulator officers identified licence and permit breaches as well as breaches relating to appropriate housing of wildlife.

In sentencing for the state offences, the judge accepted the prosecution’s submission that the offending should not be trivialised as mere paperwork breaches, and that wildlife licence requirements are the foundation of the regulatory framework governing the keeping and trade of native wildlife. The accused was convicted on 11 state-based offences laid by the Conservation Regulator and was fined $5000.

Chief Conservation Regulator Kate Gavens said “This case is a great example of cooperation between agencies to prevent exploitation of Victoria’s wildlife. Our wildlife is protected and we will hold to account anyone who fails to meet their obligation to take proper care of native animals.”

Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water
Animal Welfare Victoria
Wildlife Victoria

27/08/2025

Some compassionate members of our community have stepped up after learning about the devastating number of wildlife deaths on Wellington Road. They’ve seen the heartbreaking toll this is taking on local rescuers who face the trauma of animals dying every single day.

They understand our ongoing efforts - pushing hard for VMS boards to alert drivers about kangaroo crossings and relentlessly advocating for the broken virtual fence to be repaired and extended. They also know how frustrating it’s been, with no approvals or action in sight.

In the absence of official support, these generous individuals took matters into their own hands. They personally funded and installed signs at key crossing points along Wellington Road, hoping to warn drivers, save wildlife, and prevent a potential human tragedy.

In July, 84 kangaroos were killed on Wellington Road in Lysterfield and Rowville. Since then, the little signs were installed by concerned community members and as of today, the death toll for August is 24. It’s still far too many but it appears that these warning signs might be working.

So who is destroying them? Vandalising them? Stealing them? And more importantly - why?

What kind of person does that? Who sees an effort to save lives and tears it down? These signs are not just pieces of plastic. They are a desperate attempt to protect life.

🦘

22/08/2025

Elsie 😄

22/08/2025

🦘Update

Court cases were adjourned for the ferals in the 4WD who (apparently I have to insert allegedly - even with camera footage) intentionally mounted an enbankment and ran their car into a family of kangaroos in April, hitting one and throwing her onto the roof rack.

😡

Hope your city Laywer is costing you a fortune. See you on the 5th December at the Dandenong Magistrates court.

😡