MC Suffa laments closure of Warrawong Sanctuary

BEFORE he was selling out arenas across Australia, one Hilltop Hoods member fondly remembers family time spent at Warrawong Sanctuary with native flora and fauna.

BEFORE he was selling out arenas across Australia, one Hilltop Hoods member fondly remembers family time spent at Warrawong Sanctuary with native flora and fauna.

The wildlife park closes its doors for the last time today and Matt Lambert, known in music circles as MC Suffa, has told The Advertiser of his sadness at its imminent closure.

"We grew up going there when we were kids," he said. "My dad (Rick) used to rescue birds and we'd go up there and we'd release them back into the wild at Warrawong . . . I've got plenty of fond memories of that place."

Lambert grew up in the Adelaide Hills and "lives just around the corner" from Warrawong in Stirling, where the group's recording studio is also based.

Lambert said he was shocked at the sudden decision to close the sanctuary's doors. "I was surprised because it seemed out of the blue," he said.

"There didn't seem to be any community consultation . . .".

Lambert said he would have asked the hip-hop community to help raise funds in a charity concert.

Zoos SA chief executive Elaine Bensted said the offer of a fundraising concert was a "lovely thought" but said it would not save the sanctuary, which will close to the public today at 4pm.