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    FURRY FRIENDS: Ararat wildlife educator Jamie Lind with son Jobe and Molly the wombat. Picture: DYLAN DE JONG

‘These animals mean everything’ – Jamie Lind vows to keep business going

By Dylan De Jong 

An Ararat man with a passion for teaching others the wonders of Australian wildlife has vowed to keep his business alive despite economic hardship. 

Jamie Lind is among thousands of Victorian sole traders who have either stopped business or are operating in a limited capacity during the COVID-19 pandemic. 

The wildlife educator runs a mobile zoo service with his wife Kim.



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The pair travels across the Wimmera-Mallee to schools, aged-care homes, field days and agricultural shows to educate the public about native animals.   

As a business that relies on gatherings of large people to make an income, the husband and wife team have had to seek alternative work during the pandemic. 

And although Mr Lind was eligible for the Federal Government’s JobKeeper program, he said the weekly payments of $750, now cut to $600, fell short of the money required to feed and care for more than 160 native animals such as snakes, crocodiles, lizards and marsupials. The JobKeeper rate was reduced on Monday. 

“The feed and upkeep for the animals works out to be about $4500 a month,” Mr Lind said. 

“The animals all have very specific diets and a lot of them, mainly the reptiles, require a lot of heating, so our power bill can be upwards of $4000 a quarter.

“We didn’t mind initially because we had money behind us. I thought we should be able to get by. But as the expenses went on, six months later our finances were ruined.”  

All Victorian sole traders were left without any additional support up until September.

Earlier this month, the State Government announced a $100-million injection for an estimated 33,000 sole traders who were previously excluded from a Business Support Fund package.

Sole traders working in tourism, culture, entertainment, events, sport and recreation who were tenants or licensees in a commercial premises could be eligible for up to $3000. 

However, Mr Lind’s business failed to meet the criteria. 

“There’s no help at all. JobKeeper does give you a wage, but it just doesn’t match up with my expenses,” he said. 

Mr Lind said he obtained a wildlife licence at 16, but never thought he could make a living from working with animals.  

He turned his love for Australia’s native animals into a sustainable business more than eight years ago. 

“This is my dream job – I couldn’t believe I was getting paid to do it. To start with, it wasn’t really an income source,” he said. 

“It was just a passion from a young age. There’s just so many facts people don’t know about our native animals. 

“I have a real passion for saving wildlife, but also getting up close to them and learning what their key roles are.”

Mr Lind said he would push to ensure the survival of his business.   

“These aren’t just farm animals. They are our pets – they live among us. We spend hours and hours of time with these animals every day,” he said. 

“I don’t want to give them up, this is my life. I’d feel like I failed if I gave up on this.”  

Mr Lind said he would look to smaller events when restrictions eased. 

“If we don’t come up with a vaccine, how can we have ‘COVID normal?’ Events need a lot of people to come to make money, you’re not going to make money off a crowd of 20,” he said. 

“I got a good tax return and decided to buy my other business back – I used to do jumping castles. 

“I’m hoping I might be able to get by on small events such as birthday parties to stay afloat.”  

The entire September 30, 2020 edition of The Weekly Advertiser is available online. READ IT HERE!

The entire September 30, 2020 edition of AgLife is available online. READ IT HERE!