Following the devastating bushfires and drought in their region, the community at St Michael's Nowra is responding in a practical way to fire-affected animals and native birds.

Theresa Bagnall, one of the Support Staff Officers at St Michael's has a property in the Araluen Valley. Her husband Troy, works with a range of organisations conducting feral animal control. The property backs onto Deua National Park which was devastatingly ravaged by bushfires. The town name 'Araluen' is thought to be Aboriginal for "place where water lilies lie". This area was home to thousands of native birds and animals including a significant Bandicoot reserve. The area is now void of water and food.

As a positive environmental action, St Michael’s is fundraising and providing animal pellets and water stations for this remote area. The pellets are suitable for a range of native animals. At the moment, the Bagnall family are attempting to feed the native animals which are dehydrated and hungry.

Steve Campbell, Maintenance Provider at the school, has already made 3 water stations that the Year 6 Environmental leaders have painted and decorated. Two water stations have been delivered to the property and one will remain in the school garden to use as a resource for teachers and students. These water stations are also essential for bird life during periods of drought. The water stations and food pellets are suitable for a variety of wildlife and recommended to alleviate scarcity of food and water.

There are plans to have before and after photos of the fire affected area for the students. They already have a Game Camera set up on the food they have left out. It is interesting to see who and what is eating and drinking at the stations and pellet trails.