Curricabark sanctuary fundraiser

BARRINGTON Top’s Aussie Ark has just one week to get enough money to buy the Curricabark wildlife refuge sanctuary in Gloucester.

Related story: Aussie Ark crowdfunds to buy Curricabark sanctuary

The Ark is hoping a “Aussie Ark Wild Ride” starting next Wednesday will raise $92,000 by next Friday.

Tony Palmer and Andrew Parker will embark on a fund-raising 301km bicycle ride over three days, starting from the Australian Reptile Park on the Central Coast and finishing at the Aussie Ark facility in the Barrington Tops.

The idea came over a family dinner conversation at the Palmer residence.

“It was over dinner with my kids . . . we had a conversation over the dinner table about what the Ark does and we all agreed this was really important for our future, we don’t want to see any more species go extinct,” Tony Palmer told Scone.com.au.

“It’s just myself and a friend, we don’t want our kids learning about nature through text books, so we just think this is an amazing opportunity to lock up a piece of pristine land and extend the work the Ark is already doing.

“We’ve got to take the opportunity, buy the land, put it under custodianship of the Ark and let them continue breeding and re-wilding.”

The two venturesome riders will start their journey next Tuesday and finish on Thursday.

“We’re going to pack everything on our bikes and try to get up there on the afternoon of the 12th, to meet that deadline on Friday,” he said.

“We’re not hardcore adventure riders, there are plenty out there who have inspired us to do stuff like this.

“Since we were little kids, we loved getting outside and getting active, so if this is an opportunity that we can directly get a positive outcome, then 300km is nothing.”

Aussie Ark president Tim Faulkner said the Wild Ride is a unique way to raise money “for a cause that is close to our heart.”

“We are excited to see the outcome of the Aussie Ark Wild Ride, hopefully, it is a big success.” 

To donate to the Curricabark crowdfunding campaign, click here.