The Wildlife Games by Bindi Irwin Page A

What she didn’t love was seeing her favourite vet look so tired all the time. Beingon call 24 hours a day was exhausting, and if someone brought in an injured bird, or one of the zoo animals needed help in the middle of the night, Dr Dianne would be there without complaint to perform emergency surgery. But it took its toll. Dianne needed another vet to share the workload, even if it was only a part-time position. But Bindi knew there was no extra money to pay a vet.
    As Bindi updated the patient register, she was busy thinking. If only there was something I could do to help Dr Dianne out . . .

BINDI WAS IN HER BEDROOM, trying to concentrate on her English homework.
    The tone in the fourth chapter of Skellig, by David Almond, demonstrates the character’s frustration at being . . . 
    Arrrgh, frustration was right! How could she possibly think about her assignment when her phone hadn’t rung? She glanced over at it for the millionth time, willing it to ring. Picking it up once more, she made sure the battery was charged, the power was on, and the network connection hadn’t cut out.
    Bindi’s brother Robert bounded into her room. ‘Hi B, any news yet?’
    Bindi groaned. ‘No, and it’s driving me crazy! They said they’d let me know their decision today.’
    â€˜It’s a great idea. I’m sure they’ll say yes,’ said Robert supportively. ‘Hey, I’m going to visit the Komodo dragon. Wanna come?’
    â€˜Thanks little buddy, but I need to finish this assignment, and I NEED THIS PHONE TO RING!!!’
    As if by magic, her phone started ringing. ‘Oh my gosh, it’s ringing!’
    Robert laughed. ‘Now you NEED TO ANSWER IT!’ He left her to it, closing the door behind him.
    Bindi took a deep breath, and tried to sound relaxed. ‘Hello, Bindi speaking.’
    â€˜Hi Bindi, it’s Patrick Harris from the Aurora Network.’
    â€˜Hi Mr Harris, how are you?’ said Bindi, with a little cough. All of a sudden, her throat was too dry, and butterflies were starting to flutter in her tummy.
    â€˜Bindi, I’ll cut straight to the chase. Our board loved your idea for The Wildlife Games . We’ve already talked to a couple of our sponsors and they’re keen as mustard to be a part of it too.We like the fundraising side of it, and the audience interaction, and basically –’
    Bindi was jumping up and down on her bed now. ‘You’re saying yes?’
    â€˜Consider the project green-lit!’
    â€˜Wooooo hoooo!’ yelled Bindi. ‘That’s such great news, Mr Harris. Thank you so much.’
    Mr Harris laughed. ‘Thank you . It should be good for everyone involved. I’ll send through development plans, shooting schedules, timetables, crew lists, the artwork for the contestant call-out . . .’
    Bindi wasn’t quite paying attention to the long list of what was going to happen next. She was too busy dancing around her bedroom, shimmying to the success of her idea becoming a reality. This was fantastic news!
    Her English assignment was temporarily forgotten as she thanked Patrick Harris again, ended the call and raced down the hallway to tell her mum, Terri, the good news.
    After a few days thinking about what she could do to help the wildlife hospital, she’d come up with the idea of The Wildlife Games , a TV program that would be filmed at Australia Zoo, featuring young contestants who would compete in a range of animal-related activities. Bindi would be the host and, the best bit of all, it would raise much-needed funds for the wildlife hospital.
    â€˜Mum, guess what?’ Bindi screeched to a halt in the kitchen, where Terri and Robert were lighting candles on a cake with the word ‘Congratulations’ in pink icing on the top.
    â€˜Is that for me?’ asked Bindi, still breathless with excitement.
    Robert grinned. ‘No,