It can be hard to make big dreams come true.
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But when Belinda and Phil Donovan bought Mudgeroo Emu Farm, they knew it had the potential to realise their dream of starting a wildlife care and rehabilitation centre on the South Coast.
"It had promise immediately because it had been an animal holding facility, and already had some structures, as well as 50-60 acres of uncleared natural bushland," Mrs Donovan said.
"We got a lot of support and my husband and helpers built some amazing wombat enclosures, as well as two huge macropod enclosures and a hospital yard off the nursery."
Despite the promising start - and several years of caring for hundreds of native animals - the couple ran into personal and financial issues in 2019. Phil was diagnosed with cancer, and Belinda's mother passed away after a long battle with Huntingtons disease.
They've had to put the property on the market, and Mrs Donovan fears that without the involvement of National Parks or a large Non-Government Organisation, the unique facility will no longer be used for the benefit of South Coast wildlife.
"We know wildlife carers are full to the brim at the moment in response to all the animals suffering and needing treatment because of the fires, while we have facilities sitting here empty," Mrs Donovan said.
"In the future it may be lost entirely if this is bought by somebody who doesn't care for wildlife.
"That's the worst case scenario, because of the amount of money and sheer hard work it took from people who supported us as wildlife carers to build these facilities."
Sue Corbett, who has lived in Huskisson for 33 years, said the sale of the property would be a huge loss to the community.
"The community needs that property, we need that kind of facility here," she said.
"I would hate to see it go to some developer, be subdivided and lost. It's just heartbreaking to think of it being bulldozed, the trees lost and the wildlife displaced.
"Belinda and Phil have had some horrendous personal circumstances.
"There's got to be something we can do as a community, or with National Parks funding."
It would take $250,000-$500,000 to save the farm - and with the South Coast still reeling from bushfires, Mrs Donovan was adamant that they did not want local time, attention or money to be diverted from bushfire recovery efforts.
"Everybody is struggling to recover and working so hard," she said.
"We are really seeking somebody that can support this project on a bigger scale, by themselves.
"The dream is that National Parks or an NGO would see the value in this land to create a wildlife rehabilitation centre or wildlife veterinary hospital, and a proper training facility for wildlife vets, which is lacking on the east coast.
"We would happily donate 10 acres for that purpose if we could survive."