By CASEY NEILL
BRAND New Day had a big day out in Healesville to celebrate its first birthday.
Margo Hartley opened the care and empowerment centre last November to provide a leg-up for the Dandenong community’s most downtrodden.
On 6 December she treated people who’d completed courses during the past 12 months and their families to a barbecue at Badger Weir and a Healesville Sanctuary visit.
She said the 120-strong group travelled in a bus convoy for the “day of laughter, fun and enjoyment”.
“This was the first time many of the people on the tour had experienced Australian wildlife,” she said.
“They couldn’t wait to see the koalas and the kangaroos.”
They saw the Spirits of the Sky show, which was cut a little short when Jess, the wedge-tailed eagle, flew away.
Ms Hartley hadn’t seen the presentation for 20 years.
The group fed birds at the Land of Parrots and watched koala joey Hazel eat leaves.
“We’ve had a great year and we’re absolutely thrilled with the way things are going at Brand New Day,” Ms Hartley said.
“We thought, so often these people don’t have the opportunity to get out.
“They’ve talked a lot about the Australian animals so we thought we’d come to Healesville Sanctuary and have a barbeque at Badger Creek.
“People are just having an amazing time – they can’t believe that they can come and it’s all free.
“We provided the halal meat and the food and they’re just blown away. They appreciate it so much.“
Ms Hartley said the centre’s first year had been “beyond all expectations” and was running three courses a day.
Visitors can learn a variety of skills including how to cook, manage a household budget, complete handyman tasks and operate a computer.
“We’ll be able to run a lot more courses next year,” Ms Hartley said.
“I’ve been extremely lucky to get such amazing volunteers who are not only dedicated but so skilled in what they’re doing.
“The people who are coming along are benefiting so much from this.
“They just love Brand New Day. They love being there.
“They finish a course and then they want to do something else.
“I think they feel it’s a bit of safe haven to come and enjoy some fellowship.”
Healesville Sanctuary director Glen Holland said it was always a thrill to welcome new people to Australia and introduce them to unique Australian wildlife.
“We want them to fall in love with them as much as we have, and help use ensure they don’t disappear in the wild,” he said.
“It isn’t hard to fight extinction and save wildlife and we hope all our visitors take that important message home with them.”
Brand New Day will close for Christmas holidays on 16 December and reopen on 14 January.
Call Ms Hartley on 0419 888 426 with any inquiries.
See more photos from the day at dandenong.starcommunity.com.au.
