Christine Taylor - Storm Damage Relief

Hi, my name is Kate Taylor and I am raising funds to support my mother Christine Taylor.

Last year on the 10th of June 2021, a state-wide storm event damaged our family home beyond recognition.

 

After living away for 4 months, my mother returned to the property and took up residence in one tiny section of the home. From that point, she received no more financial support from her insurer.

She has remained there ever since, but without laundry facilities or adequate heating (due to the ceilings still being open throughout the rest of the house, and heat escaping). The shower in the section where she is living, has now also been deemed unsafe to use. There are shipping containers and a skip blocking her path down to the horse yard, forcing her to take a boggy route down to feed the horse.

 

Mum’s insurance company has left things at a standstill and it has now been over 12 months. They have not properly packed out the house and the roof is still tarped in places. There is mould growing in parts and leaks when it rains.

 

She is waiting for an AFCA (ombudsman) claim to be processed, but currently has no answers as to when the rebuild will occur. She is nearly 70 and living alone, so we want her to remain as safe as possible while she waits on the insurance company.

Mum has been a member of VICSES for over 30 years and is the current Woodend Unit Controller. She has worked on many storm damage events during her years with the unit. 

 

We are fundraising to help mum with the following things over winter:

 

1. Wood, so that she can use the wood fire as well as the split system, to get the house warmer over winter.

2. A specialised cleaner, to deep clean some of the mouldy areas at the other end of the house, so that she can safely shower in the second bathroom. This will also help to keep our possessions that are still in the house safer. 

3. Screenings, to create a safe pathway down to the horse yard so that mum can drive her car down to feed the horse safely as the winter sets in.

4. Emergency “nearby” accomodation fund- so that mum can book in some nights at alternate accomodation nearby, when it is particularly cold and wet or if the roof is leaking in the area where she needs to use the shower. Mum needs to be nearby to feed our animals up to 3 times a day. 

5. General financial support - as she has had to do a lot more travel to use facilities at friends and families places etc.

6. Support to assist with paying for building quote, legal advice, temporary repairs (including shower repairs etc.)

 

7. Storage for items still in the house.