FROM a injured lamb she nursed back to health in her suburban backyard to over 50 sheep living their best life on her farm in Concongella, Nina Mackay has spend the last 20 years rescuing lambs and sheep.
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By trade she is a safety and training officer, but her heart lies with rescuing lambs and sheep.
Ms Mackay's rescue operation began when she was gifted 18 sheep by a farmer friend.
She had spoken about her interest in attempting some sheep farming and her friend gave her her own 'baptism of fire'.
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She said she nurtured and cared for her sheep, despite the sad condition they were in, the sheep thrived.
Through just word of mouth, farmers knew to call on Ms Mackay to take in lambs they were unable to take care of. In 2020, she took in 10 lambs, so her farm has now 55 rescue sheep on her farm.
As life came to a stand still in 2020, Ms Mackay decided to launch a website called Lambies.
Lambies has Care Cards people can buy to help support the rescue lambs.
Ms Mackay also wanted to bring her advocacy of the animals global.
"I wanted to get the message out about this often misunderstood species," she said.
"Sheep can be highly intelligent.
"Especially when you train them, you see sparks of their personality come forward."
Ms Mackays first lamb was a sheep called Rambo, who she bought from a farm in 2000.
Rambo the Sheep was incredibly injured when Ms Mackay took him home to her suburban home in Ballarat.
She said his leg was scraped down to the bone and infected.
The local vet said Rambo wouldn't last the night, but Ms Mackay spent three months tending to Rambo and his wound, changing bandages and giving him injections.
Ms Mackay said she bonded with Rambo and sheep have had a special place in her heart ever since.
Coming in the new year will be a children's book Ms Mackay is writing about a sheep named Louis, who is a character based on Rambo.
Ms Mackay spent time in New South Wales helping with wildlife but she said she loves working with sheep.
"Maybe it's because I was born under the sign of the Ram." Ms Mackay said.
To support Lambies visit lambies.com.au.
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