New homes for Fairbridge possums
FAIRBRIDGE Village guests often stay up at night to track possum prints and listen to possums hissing and scurrying around. But while the furry creatures have proven to be a beloved attraction at Fairbridge, they also cause countless problems as they search for a place to call home.
Patching holes where possums rip out air ducts and chew through cables has cost plenty of hours in maintenance. And being a charity with limited funds and limited man hours, keeping on top of it takes plenty of effort for Fairbridge workers.
Luckily, Coodanup Bush Rangers came to the rescue when they handed over 13 cleverly-made possum homes to be put in trees around the property. Being in the middle of karri and jarrah forests, it’s always possum breeding season at Fairbridge, which means that hundreds of possums live on site.
Over the past few decades, mass clearing in the Peel region has included many large trees with hollows that were traditionally possum homes. “These possum homes will be really important in helping us alleviate some of the problems we’re having,” Fairbridge Training Projects Manager Mitch Smith said. “Possums have damaged buildings right across the village and we’re constantly having to possum-proof our cottages to ensure they stay out. These boxes provide an alternate home for them. “Our maintenance workers will now have more time to do other tasks that make the village a better place for the families, students, adventure-seekers, bridal parties, holidaymakers and conference guests that visit,” he said.
The 25 young people from the Coodanup Community College program made the 13 boxes over three weeks. As a reward for their efforts, they were treated to a night in Fairbridge Village’s newly renovated heritage-listed cottages followed by a day of outdoor adventure activities at the village.
They also received a lesson on possums by Fairbridge CALM Trainer Chris Johnson.
Fairbridge is the only charity in Australia that owns a whole nationally heritage-listed village dedicated to providing positive change in the lives of young people in need and the community through a holistic approach and ongoing support.