Paying forward for bushfire victims

‘It all happened so quickly, Jaki, so incredibly fast. They just had time to get out..’ 

My brother-in-law’s neighbour has been his rock through repeated bouts of cancer - in spite of her own incredibly debilitating medical conditions, and coping with the needs of her now-adult severely autistic son, who can only realistically live on his own.

They have lived for decades way out of town in the Nymboida hinterland, adapting their very modest hand-built home to Heather’s increasing disability.  Nevertheless they managed to buy a cheap house for their son in town.

Heather has a disability pension - but since yesterday, 9th November 2019, she and her husband have no home, no insurance - but, yes, a mortgage for their son’s house.

Heather was coming back from yet another stay in hospital when their house burnt down - so she has a change of clothes. Stu has what he was wearing.  And some music. That’s it. 

Heather is one of the most humble, giving people I know. And what did she give? She gave the only things she had: her time, and her love. Time for her to receive.