THE Kyabram Fauna Park is as synonymous with our town as good football, dairy farming and the great Gus Underwood.
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But there is little doubt that it has been struggling.
Low visitor numbers and declining infrastructure have left a gaping hole in the park finances, and it's a vicious cycle; without the numbers, you can't afford the infrastructure.
But without better infrastructure, you can't attract the visitors.
It's a problem that park manager Lachlan Gordon inherited with great gusto about six months ago, and along with a number of new and talented staff has attacked head on.
And standing in the gap between income the park generates and what it needs to get back on its feet has been the people of Kyabram.
Armed with their time, skills and belief in the potential of the park, volunteer clubs have given their resources and businesses have given in-kind support in order to get the park up to scratch.
If you walk around the park today you might not necessarily notice the amount of work that has been put in behind the scenes over the last six months.
Like the refreshed garden beds at the entry way, 'adopted' by Sue Walley from Fab Flowers.
Or in-kind trade work and discounts provided by Brady Electrical, Stuart Bert Building, Hearn Painting, Empire Signs and JAG Plumbing.
Not to mention the meat and vegetables donated each week by Fitzgeralds Meats, Ky D Pak and Kyabram Woolworths.
And the work of volunteers from the Ky Men's Shed, Kyabram Rotary and Lions Clubs, and the Kyabram Landcare Group.
But the proof is in the pudding.
While visitor numbers still have a way to go to make the park financially successful, the two park open days over the last school holiday periods have pulled in some impressive numbers.
Marg Allan, chair of the committee of management and DELWP representative, said these open days were an important part of the feasibility plan for the park moving forward.
“Establishing a calendar of events has been key to increasing visitation,” she said.
“It's also an opportunity to re-engage with the community.
“We get amazing feedback from people visiting on these days and a massive amount of work goes into making the visitor experience fantastic, which encourages them to come back.”
The Fauna Park Fun Day in July this year saw more than 2,000 visitors to the park on one day, which is the biggest turnout the park has had — ever.
Birds of Prey Fun Day just a few weeks ago attracted a further 1200 visitors.
Mr Gordon said focusing on the visitor experience will be a key cornerstone of the park rebuild.
“But there is lots of potential to increase our visitor numbers. Echuca is not far away and we need to tap into that. With more visitors, we can make a better investment back into the Park,” he said.
“Having community support has just been huge. They've all seen the vision and all chipped in, it has been fantastic.
“The Kyabram community has proved themselves an impressive presence."
There is other help on its way, too.
DELWP will grant the park $150,000 over two years to get its education program back up and employ a teacher for the education centre.
“There are 120 schools within an hour's drive of us and we are wanting to reconnect with them,” Mr Gordon said.
“We used to have 4500 school kids pass through the park a year and at the moment that is sitting at 1200.
“This will be a quick win and something that will help to keep our financial cogs turning, as well as educate young people about conservation which is very important to us."
And of course there is the Draft Park Masterplan.
The plan has looked at innovative ways to attract more people to the park, including the potential for exotic animals to join their native counterparts.
Ms Allan said the committee are looking at what will best attract visitors, while keeping in line with community expectations and what the staff of the park want.
But native animals will remain the park's primary focus, even if exotic species are brought in.
“We are working hard to expand the species we have here so that there is more for people to see,” Mr Gordon said.
“That means investing in training for our team and making sure that our new hires have the experience with the right animals."
He said many of the Fauna Park team — himself included — signed up because of the opportunity to return the park to its former glory.
“Many of the staff, myself included, are here because they are excited by the unique opportunity to be part of the rebuild,” he said.
“It's an opportunity to contribute.”