Community & Business
18 November, 2025
18 years of refuge
THE Mareeba Animal Refuge has endured quite a lot in 18 years – starting out as a two-woman operation in its early days and almost sinking more times than it can count – nevertheless, it always finds a way to keep keeping on.
But the refuge is a mere reflection of the people who have stood the test of time with it – those with a big heart for animals and a spirit of grit.
On Monday, it celebrated its 18th birthday, and staff are kindly asking the community for any donations should they wish to give a birthday present.
Refuge founder and manager Jennifer Walsh said there had been many hard times, but she was glad to see the organisation through nearly two decades.
“It’s amazing to know we’ve been here for 18 years. There’s been many, many times when we’ve virtually had to say, ‘We’re going to close because we just can’t keep going’,” she said.
“But something always happens to pull us out of the depths and we just manage to keep going. The longer we’re here, the more support we seem to get – the more the community seems to rally around us.”
Staff member of 12 years Felicity Pollard was also happy to see the refuge celebrate another year.
“Oh, it’s amazing. There was some really, really tough times there where we thought we might have lost it, but we always manage to pull through, thanks to the community,” she said.
Jennifer started the refuge after she fell in love with animal care while volunteering for a group in Herberton.
“I was involved with a group called Friends of the Animals. I became so besotted with the whole thing that I became a volunteer for the group,” she said.
“At that stage, we were hoping to build a refuge in the Wongabel State Forest, but due to various reasons that all fell through.
“But around about that time, Mareeba Shire Council put the old refuge up for tender. So we applied for that and won it, and I just seemed to be the natural one to take over the managership of it.”
In the early days of the refuge, Jennifer and another lady were the only two workers.
“I had one other volunteer – it was just the two of us. We did everything in those days,” she said.
“We did all the cleaning, all the feeding, we walked every single dog every day – we were like that,” she said holding one finger up. “Skin and bone.”
Felicity started volunteering at the refuge when she was 11 and immediately joined the team when she finished high school. Jennifer said that Felicity would definitely take over management of the refuge one day.
“Felicity volunteered with me in the cattery every Saturday morning for her entire school career, and as soon as she finished school, I said, ‘You’re coming on staff!’, and she did,” Jennifer said.
“She is definitely going to take over from me when I finally fall off my perch. Being the social media person, she’s built this fantastic Facebook page, and that’s really been the thing that’s driven all the support – she’s done a fabulous job.”
The refuge has put a call out for any donations for its 18th birthday, noting it just covered a $14,000 vet bill for the month.
To round out the year, the refuge will be holding its final adoption day for the year on 13 December and its Annual General Meeting (AGM) on 7 December.
The adoption day, which will have dogs, puppies, cats, and kittens, will be held at Pets Domain, Mareeba from 9am-1pm.
“Hopefully this can be a big one for us, we’re really full at the moment – especially kittens,” Felicity said.
“We’re smack bang in the middle of kitten season – I think I worked out we have 25 or so. So, hopefully we can find them some forever homes at our last adoption day.”
For the AGM, the refuge is welcoming any new members, and the meeting will be held at the premises at 35 Hickling Avenue, Mareeba. Membership is just $20 for the year.
