What took 50 years to build was razed by fire in a day, and Dr Robyn Coy, at 69, isn’t sure she’ll be able to get it back close to what it was without help.

The Tarcombe research scientist, who has been caring for wildlife for more than 50 years, estimates she lost around $1.3 million of stock and equipment, but says the actual replacement value for what was destroyed is around $2 million.

“So, we’re downsizing,” Dr Coy said.

“We can’t possibly get back up to full, but we’ll do what we can.”

A GoFundMe established soon after the fires has raised $365,000 of a $400,000 goal, but donations have slowed and the time-limited fundraiser will end soon.

She has received other useful donations, such as a washing machine, which she uses to clean the fabric pouches and blankets for animals, saving her around $120 each laundromat visit.

She lost five washing machines in the fire.

There are many other ways people can help.

“It would be really good if we could get some help from some tradies; we’ve got to rebuild pens,” Dr Coy said.

“We’re doing more aviaries, so there’s things like aviaries and fencing material we need if people have got spare stuff hanging around.

“We need to buy all the veterinary equipment that we lost, all kinds of stuff like capture equipment, and that’s just all for the shelter.”

On a personal level, the devastation is just as great.

“When you lose everything, people don’t realise, you walk up to your kitchen, it’s not there, you can’t even make a cup of tea,” she said.

“You don’t have any spoons, forks, cups, kettle, nothing, and it’s quite a shock, and then to have to replace everything.”

But, she insisted, despite now living in an unsealed horse float, her priority was rebuilding the shelter.

“There’s so much we’re going to have to replace; I lost my humidicribs, my microscopes — I had three beautiful microscopes — they’re expensive little items to replace, the autoclave, UV sterilisers, so yeah, a lot of equipment,” she said.

Dr Coy is also giving businesses and corporations an opportunity to help by offering minor sponsorships of the Tarcombe Animal Shelter.

“That’ll get a long way to keeping it running ... it’s not cheap to run, our vet bills from the fires until now, just the medication and vet bills is broaching on $15,000 already,” she said.

“It takes about $700,000 (annually) to run the shelter, and that’s just on a shoestring stuff.”

Dr Coy said if she could get her hands on a 40-foot expandable shipping container, she could establish a training area (to continue educating other wildlife carers at her property), a further treatment centre and pathology lab, joey rooms and a warmer place to sleep, “all in one place”.

Donate to the GoFundMe here.

To offer hands-on help or donate other items, contact Dr Coy through the Tarcombe Animal Shelter Facebook page here.

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Friday, 11th September 2026

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