Fire at the Welsh Family home

Hi, my name is Darren and as many of you may well know on Tuesday the 11th of March 2025, there was a fire at the home of Stuart Welsh and family.

Stuart is currently at the Alfred Hospital and he will be in the ICU for around 2 weeks and a further 2 months where he will be on the ward. He is going to need a number of skin grafts, with burns to 30% of his body, the severity of which is still being assessed.

The family have lost everything. Their entire home, and the adjoining duplex were engulfed within minutes. The gas bottle for the BBQ has exploded, burning Stuart’s face, neck, arms and hands, legs and feet. Exactly how Stuart’s health turns out is still to be determined.

Joyce and Bella were at home when the explosion occurred, and despite their best efforts, Stuart had to jump from the second floor balcony to escape the flames. Despite his burns, he went back into the home to try and fetch the animals and get them out. Joyce had also grabbed a ladder and was trying to reach Stuart before he had to jump.

The family lost their cat Levi, the friendliest cat I have ever known.

Disasters have a funny way of bringing out the best in people. Genna, Josh, Joyce and Bella have responded to the challenges that they all face. They have nothing, but they are trying to pull their lives back together. They will need help, in all forms.

I hope that by doing this, people can help in a concrete way to support them. They are the sort of people who help and have helped everybody over many many years. It is now time to help them.