By Shelby Brooks
An iconic Nar Nar Goon agricultural business has donated over 350kg of sweet potatoes to some hungry Australian wildlife across the shire.
Wombats, kangaroos and possums from Locky’s Legacy Wildlife Shelter in Pakenham Upper have been happily munching on the sweet potatoes, donated from Red Gem Growers late last week.
Red Gem general manager Rob Cerchiaro knew he didn’t want to waste the sweet potatoes rejected from a recent export order, so organised for Pakenham Central Probus to pick up the donation and distribute to any willing wildlife shelters.
“For an export order last week, we had a bit left over because some were rejects for one reason or another,” Rob said.
“It’s always good that stock doesn’t go to waste. If it’s not suitable for the table it can be suitable for the farm.”
Red Gem donate a lot of left over produce to foodbanks but were more than happy to donate to some hungry animals this time.
Don Smith of Locky’s Legacy Wildlife Shelter said he was shocked when he first saw the number of potatoes that were heading his way.
“It was shock horror when we saw how many were there,” he said.
“I spent most of Friday donating three quarters of the load to other shelters.
“We physically could not use all of them.”
Other shelters to receive donations were Jillyara Wildlife Shelter in Nar Nar Goon North, Gembrook Wildlife Shelter, Emerald Monbulk Wildlife Shelter, Back to Nature Wildlife Shelter in Nar Nar Goon North and McLeans Creek Wildlife Shelter in Beaconsfield Upper.
Don thinks it will take about two weeks for his animals to get through the donation.
“It’s a wonderful vegetable for wildlife in care,” he said.
