Team Spotlight on Sue Moloney

Meet our Health and Safety Training Officer, Sue Moloney, in the first of a series of team spotlights. In the meantime, you can meet other members of our team on our website here.

Hello! My name is Sue Moloney, and I am the Health and Safety and Training officer here at the Sanctuary. I have worked at Remus since July 2015, but have been involved as a volunteer for about 25 years. Before coming to the Sanctuary I worked at Writtle College for 18 years as an Animal Care Instructor.

I am employed three days a week and my role is a busy and varied one. I am responsible for making sure that everyone – humans and animals – are working and living in a safe environment. Everyone also receives ongoing training in Health and Safety and also practical and theory sessions in the care of animals.

Before Covid I used to run Workshops and Pony Days at the Sanctuary.

I also volunteer my time to help the Sanctuary, I help them with events such as the Afternoon Teas and on the Open Days. This year I started making the cakes, scones and sandwiches for the Afternoon Teas, which have proved to be very popular. Why not come along to one of them, they are held during the spring and summer months on a Monday afternoon.

Outside of the Sanctuary I have quite a busy life! My life revolves around animals and animal welfare. I was vegetarian for 27 years before finally going vegan five years ago. I have two cats – Tom and Maverick (both rescues, pictured), two tortoises – Rocky and Rambo (also rescues) and a little Bourke’s parakeet called Elsie. I’ve had Elsie for about 25 years, she’s ancient, but still going strong, bless her!

In the spring of this year I joined a local wildlife group in the village of Boreham where I live. I foster some of the animals that are brought in until they are well enough to be released back into the wild. It has been mostly birds, e.g. collared doves, pigeons and ducklings, but now I have also started to take in baby hedgehogs that are too small to survive the winter. We overwinter them until the spring and then they are released close by to where they were found. The hedgehog population in the 1950s was 50 million, today there are less than a million, so we must protect these precious animals. I also answer the wildlife rescue emergency phone and arrange the transportation of any sick/injured animals that are found by members of the public.

I am also very much into crafting, my main hobbies being cake decorating, jewellery making and sewing. Up until recently I was the secretary for the Sugarcraft Guild. I make cakes for Remus to use as raffle prizes to help raise funds.

Another great interest of mine is complimentary therapies for both humans and animals, I am qualified in aromatherapy, Bach Flower remedies, Crystal Healing and Reiki. I gained a qualification in aromatherapy for animals, taking two years to complete.

Well that’s all about me! Thank you so much for supporting the Sanctuary, it truly is a wonderful place xx