My name is Zoey Ergunen.

On 9 January 2026 at around 4:00 pm, our beautiful family home was destroyed by a sudden and catastrophic fire. What began externally on a tree, driven by extreme heatwave conditions and powerful winds, escalated within seconds. The fire was blown straight into our living room where my children were sitting at the time.

We had approximately 10 seconds to escape before a wave of fire tore through the house and destroyed everything we owned.

My two daughters, aged 5 and 11, have been deeply traumatised by this experience. In one moment, they lost the place where they felt safest their home, their belongings, their sense of security. We lost everything.

Despite this unimaginable loss, we are profoundly grateful to be alive and together. That is something I hold onto every day.

Unfortunately, we are now having to start again from scratch. Due to our location, we have not been eligible for Vic Emergency bushfire relief, and we did not have contents insurance. I am also currently unable to work due to a serious hip injury, which has made this period even more challenging.

I am not someone who asks for help easily. This is incredibly hard to share. However, I am deeply thankful for the love, kindness, and support that has already surrounded us during this painful time.

Any support whether through donations, sharing this page, or simply keeping our family in your thoughts means more to us than words can express. Thank you for helping us take the first steps toward rebuilding our lives.

With heartfelt gratitude,

Zoey