Jed, Owen and their baby, Ember, as well as their dog and cat, were forced to leave their property, as their home was swept away in the recent floods, along with all of their precious possessions!



(Edit: at 2am the property was hit with a flash flood from a rapid flowing creek breaking its banks. The house was lifted up off the stumps with the whole family, cat, dog and two friends inside. The whole house was swept down the creek and luckily wedged between 2 water tanks and a tree, saving everyone’s life inside. Most of the house collapsed in on itself and was swept away. The only room that didn’t collapse was the room the family happened the be in. Jed and Owen’s two friends were found clinging to a tree in the torrent in the dark and Owen helped them onto the roof and led them to the room where they waited for daylight. They waded through the floods with a safety line to escape and trekked up a nearby hill and across a landslide to find safety at a neighbouring house.)


 

 

This family has been through so much over the past 48+ hours as they fled to higher ground, where they have been stranded at a neighbouring house, awaiting rescuing via Helicopter. Unfortunately they were unable to leave the mountain due to flooded causeways and an eroded bridge.

 

Tragically, not only has this young family lost their home, but both of their small businesses too!

 

Jed and Owen are both small business owners who were already struggling financially due to the pandemic, whilst also juggling being new parents.

Jed is a silversmith and operates from home. The loss of all of her silversmith equipment, stock of expensive gemstones and her life’s long work of sustainable jewellery is absolutely tragic and a devastating financial blow.

Owen has recently started an ethically sourced, vegan chocolate business and creates the chocolates from home. So much hard work and love has been poured into this recent creation and losing everything now just heart breaking. All his machines and equipment, including hand built and specialist machines, stock and packaging are gone.



We have also just received news that their cars survived the flood with a few possessions inside, but are damaged and the keys are gone. They will be unable to retrieve anything for weeks due to multiple access bridges being washed away.

 

The uncertainty of this little families future and the financial implications and reality of being displaced and losing their livelihood during a housing crisis, is absolutely devastating.

The estimated loss is: 

• Jed’s jewellery equipment and tools: $15000

• laptops, cameras and photography equipment: $8500

• House furnishing and electronics: $5000

• Owen’s collection of music instruments:  $4000

• Owen’s tools: $2000

• Owens chocolate making equipment: $5000

• Kitchen appliances: $3000

• Other house hold belongings: $4000

• Car damage estimated: $5000

Total: $51,500

And a lifetime of irreplaceable childhood possessions and memories.  

 

This family will need ongoing support from the community for a long time however right now we are asking for donations to help get them back on their feet and slowly begin to rebuild their lives!

 

even the smallest donation makes a difference.

 

Thank you for your support,

 

Love from Jed’s family and friends.