Help the Gore’s get back on their feet

At 2:30pm on Saturday afternoon, mum and dad’s neighbours called to say that their house was on fire. What should have been a fabulous afternoon with all our family celebrating mums birthday, turned into a very dark day.

By the time they got back to their house it was surrounded by police, ambulances and fire trucks and flame were billowing out of the roof. the smoke was visible from the hill overlooking Gerroa.

Mum and Dad have only just finished up renovating their home and were proud as punch of the forever home that they had created. It was a beautifully simple home, and despite having only lived there a short while, was a place that was loved by all of our family.

My sister Lily, her husband Sam and their dog Risotto had recently moved in with mum and dad for a short stint while they relocated from their apartment in Bondi to find their feet on the South Coast where they have both just started teaching at new schools.

While we are all incredibly thankful that no one was in the house at the time, and none of the amazing community members who selflessly went above and beyond got everything out of the garage were hurt, both our family dogs were trapped in the blaze. Mum and dad’s gorgeous cat, Finn, miraculously escaped unharmed.

When the blaze was finally under control it seemed that there may have been some items that could be salvaged. Unfortunately, in the early hours of Sunday morning the blaze reignited and the Shoalhaven Heads Fire Brigade had to attend again. It also reignited again mid Sunday morning as the Fire Investigation was combing the scene.

The house is now a completely destroyed and there is hardly anything that can be saved.

While they have insurance, mum and dad, Lily and Sam are left with very little. There is next to nothing left, and while mum and dad keep saying, “things are things”, it is difficult to fathom how you could ever replace a lifetimes worth of possessions.

Lots of people have been asking how they can support or where they donate some money. Any amount would be so greatly appreciated to help them get some things to start putting their lives back together.

We are all so incredibly grateful for the outpouring of support from the Shoalhaven Heads community, all the emergency services who responded to the scene and everyone who has checked in and offered support!