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RSPCA must give money back: IngramThe Independent Member for Gippsland East, Craig Ingram, has called on the RSPCA to return money raised by East Gippsland residents towards a new animal shelter. By Craig Ingram - 4th October 2006 - Back to News Speaking in State Parliament, Craig Ingram highlighted the outrageous actions of RSPCA president, Dr Hugh Wirth, and the Victorian state executive, in taking money raised in Gippsland (as they have in other areas of the state) for the new animal shelter, which has been siphoned off to Melbourne.
"In September 2002, Jack Whadcoat, who is a tireless worker within our community and long time member of the RSPCA, received an award of $15,000 for enterprise and achievement donated by Tattersalls," Mr Ingram said.
"Jack donated the award to the charity of his choice, which was the construction of an animal shelter at Bairnsdale. Members of the local community also raised over $80,000 for the shelter.
"In recent correspondence from Tattersalls, they have stated that ‘Tattersalls is disappointed, if not angry’ that the money has not been spent on its intended purpose, and further that the ‘RSPCA have no right to the money’. They also described the issue as a ‘scandal’… ‘drenched in bureaucratic bungling’.
"Hugh Wirth and the RSPCA have shown absolute city-centric contempt by spending the money in Melbourne. Through its actions, the RSPCA seems more about propping up Hugh Wirth's media profile and publicity, and not the welfare of animals in this state.
"This is another example of the mistreatment of country areas by the RSPCA and its absolute contempt for the tireless volunteers who work for the organisation.
"It is time that Hugh Wirth gave this money back to the East Gippsland community that it was originally donated to," Mr Ingram concluded.
Source: http://gippsland.com/ Published by: news@gippsland.com
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