Dadswells Bridge fire emergency fund

Hi, my name is Lee-Anne and I was living in a rented house on a farm in Dadswell Bridge near the Grampians with my son and partner. When the recent bushfires came through on Tuesday 13th of Feb 2024 when I saw the flames heading to our house I grabbed the pets, my son, my phone and time did not allow for anything else to be collected.

Everything I owned was destroyed including my father's vintage Ford Fairline 500 ZD 1971 and the family photo albums which I acquired after he died.

The house contents were destroyed as well as the farm machinery and the shed. We were farming sheep for wool and the sheep didn't survive.

Because of commitment to the farm we couldn't afford home contents insurance and we had little in the way of savings.

I have one week's accommodation in a cabin in a caravan park and I have paid for another week but otherwise after that I have nowhere to live.

So my immediate needs are a roof over my head, food, and buying basic needs with regard to clothing, kitchen utensils, and all those things most of us take for granted. When you have nothing it all seems overwhelming.