World Heart Day: Honouring the Hearts That Beat for Wildlife
Today, 29 September, the world marks World Heart Day—a day often dedicated to heart health and awareness. But here at Amaris Wildlife Sanctuary, we choose to celebrate a different kind of heart: the compassionate, courageous, and unwavering hearts of those who give themselves to wildlife, day in and day out.
These are not hearts measured by pulse or pressure, but by love. By the quiet strength it takes to cradle an orphaned joey. By the fierce resolve to chase down a call in the fading light, knowing a life may hang in the balance. By the tears shed in solitude after a hard goodbye, and the joy that erupts when a once-broken animal takes its first steps toward healing.
To our carers—you are the heartbeat of of our wildlife. You give your hearts freely, knowing they will be stretched, tested, and sometimes broken. You rise each morning to feed, clean, soothe, and protect. You stay up through the night with the fragile ones, whispering comfort into fur and feathers. You carry the weight of every life entrusted to your care, and still, you open your hearts again and again.
To the rescuers in the field—your hearts are wild and brave. You climb fences, cross paddocks, and navigate bushland to reach the injured, the orphaned, the lost. You are the first touch of safety for animals in crisis. You carry them gently, speak to them softly, and promise them they are no longer alone.
To the rescuers with broken hearts—we see you. We honour you. You perform the hardest acts of mercy, offering release when suffering cannot be eased. You do so with trembling hands and aching hearts, because love sometimes means letting go. Your courage is sacred.
To the public who call in sightings, who stop traffic for a kangaroo, who cradle a joey until help arrives—your hearts matter. You are part of this great web of care. Your compassion ripples outward, reminding us that wildlife belongs to all of us, and that kindness is never wasted.
To the generous hearts behind the scenes —you are the quiet champions of Amaris. Through fundraising, donations, and outreach, you keep our sanctuary alive. You rally communities, host raffles, share our stories, and help us reach those who’ve never heard of us before. You give not just money, but momentum.
You remind us that care doesn’t always wear gumboots—it sometimes wears hands covered in silicone and powder, crafting teats for the tiniest mouths, to raise funds for Amaris. It wears paint-stained fingers and creative minds, as artists pour love into canvases that speak for the voiceless. It wears the thoughtful generosity of patrons who bid, buy, and give—not just to own something beautiful, but to be part of something meaningful.
You are proof that love can be logistical, strategic, and deeply personal. You show us that compassion lives in spreadsheets, in stitched pouches, in brushstrokes, and in every quiet act of support. You are the heartbeat behind the scenes—and we are endlessly grateful.
To everyone whose heart beats for Jaffa—you are part of something extraordinary. My Name is Jaffa is more than a campaign. It’s a movement of love, sparked by one brave girl and carried by many. Jaffa’s story—her resilience, her gentleness, her quiet strength—has touched hearts across paddocks, towns, and timelines. And those hearts have responded.
You’ve worn her name, shared her journey, and stood beside her in spirit. You’ve donated, fundraised, and spoken her name with reverence. You’ve shown that a single kangaroo can unite a community—not through tragedy, but through hope. Through the belief that every life matters, and every story deserves to be told.
To the artists who’ve painted her likeness, the patrons who’ve bid with love, the carers who’ve held her close, and the supporters who’ve whispered “My name is Jaffa” as a promise—we see you. You are the pulse behind the movement. You are the reason her legacy lives on.
Jaffa reminds us that healing is possible, that love is powerful, and that when hearts beat together, they can move mountains.
Today, we don’t speak of sick hearts. We speak of strong ones. Tender ones. Hearts that beat in rhythm with the land, the animals, and each other. World Heart Day, for us, is a celebration of love in action.
So to every heart that has ever broken for a creature in need, and every heart that keeps showing up anyway—thank you. You are the reason Amaris exists. You are the reason hope lives here.
“Inspiring hope and healing for Australia’s wildlife, one rescue at a time.”
This is Bandit - It took a collection of hearts to bring him healing, love, and protection. After surviving two tail breaks and osteomyelitis, Bandit is now wild and free. Thank you Claire, Alice, and Kristy—for your unwavering care and courage.