By Abbey Cannan
A Maleny based animal rescue group is calling on the community for donations after the founder crashed head on with a cement truck while on a hay run.
Despite Save A Cow Foundation’s Anthony Walsgott now being out of hospital, he is still bed-bound and has a long recovery journey ahead of him.
With 80 head of cattle in five sanctuary’s, Mr Walsgott is asking the community to help his partner, Julianne Smith to keep the foundation running.
“She is having to manage the cows and work with volunteers and on top of that she’s having to look after me,” Mr Walsgott said.
“She’s got a lot on her plate, so it’s a lot of a work for her and I’m just trying to keep out of the way.”
Mr Walsgott said he was in a lot of pain after breaking bones in the crash and could only help with directions.
“I have a high pain threshold but it’s just going to take time before everything heals,” he said.
“I’m in bed and only out if I can try to work my legs a bit.”
Mr Walsgott said he was stunned to wake up in hospital after the accident.
“It was a shock waking up after four days of being in a coma and then realising what had happened,” he said.
“Julianne had already started organising volunteers and fundraising.
“Thinking about the cows and the positives of what we’re doing keeps me emotionally strong.
“I think about what cows go through at slaughter houses, I think about their lives on farms and I think about what we’re doing for these cows, who are some of the lucky ones, who are being looked after and kept away from all that horror, so that keeps me in good spirits.”
Mr Walsgott said they needed between $1000 and $1500 each week for the next six months to pay for the hay to feed the cows.
“We’ve raised a few thousand so we’re sort of a little bit forward but it’ll soon dry up,” he said.
“It’s over $1000 every week to care for the cows but there are expenses on top of that in terms of moving them around and things like fencing.
“To get to the end of the year we’re going to need $1500 a week. I don’t have a Ute or anything like that so right now we’re completely at the help of volunteers with any vehicles.
“The community support is really essential and that was really the idea of the foundation, and people are really stepping up, so that’s good.“
To donate to Save a Cow Foundation visit bit.ly/2MBEQa3
