Photo: WIRES

It's been a heartbreaking few months, and right now,  WIRES Wildlife Rescue is caring for thousands of injured, orphaned and sick animals. The State Library of NSW, the home of the Dictionary of Sydney, wants to help ensure our state’s wildlife volunteers can continue doing this amazing work. The Library is putting up for auction a very special event, a five course dinner for four people in the beautiful Shakespeare Room in the Mitchell Wing of the Library - one of the most unusual public venues in Sydney. The night also includes a special encounter with an extraordinary treasure from the Library’s collection.

Dinner for four in the Library's beautiful Shakespeare Room could be yours! Bid now on this amazing experience and help to support WIRES care for our wildlife.

Bids will be accepted in Australian dollars only until the auction closes at 11pm on Monday 20 January 2020. As of 15 January, bidding is currently at AUS$800. Bids can be made via the Library’s relevant posts on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, or by emailing media@sl.nsw.gov.au.

The highest bidder will be contacted by the State Library on Tuesday 21 January and instructed to donate directly to the WIRES Wildlife Rescue. Once proof of donation has been provided, the Library will liaise directly with the winner to schedule the event. Please note: The dinner in the Shakespeare Room must been be held on a weekday in 2020, subject to availability.  

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Photo: Kyla Stephan

If you want to help in other ways as well, Library staff are holding open knitting groups from 12-2 on Wednesdays in January for anyone who would like to join them in making much-needed pouches for joeys and possums injured or orphaned by the bushfires. You don't need to be an expert, just bring 8 ply 100% wool (the pouch has to be breathable) and 4mm knitting needles. The Library will provide patterns, advice and refreshments - click here for further details: https://www.sl.nsw.gov.au/events/knitting-group The Library website also has guides to dealing with caring for your paper based items that may have been affected by ash, smoke and odour on their website here, and has put together resources to help in dealing with bushfire insurance issues here. You can keep up with the Library's other initiatives to support those affected by the fires through the Library website https://www.sl.nsw.gov.au/ and by subscribing to the Library newsletters and social media streams.     Place your bid for dinner in the Shakespeare room via the Library’s relevant posts on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, or by emailing media@sl.nsw.gov.au.