Hello,

My name is Taylor, and I am fundraising for my beautiful best friend Ally and her partner, Jeremy. Ally and I have been friends for 15 years and have been through so much together, but this recent event has left me feeling incredibly helpless and unsure of how best to support my dearest friend and her partner during such an unimaginable time. I hope that this helps!

In November last year, less than two months ago, Ally and Jeremy moved into what they hoped would be their forever home Ruff Wood Cottage in Longwood VIC. It was meant to be the beginning of their new life together, a fresh start, a dream realised, and a place they were so incredibly proud to call their own.

Christmas looked a little different this year. . Once upon a time, we exchanged girlie gifts, in the photo attached you can see them at our Christmas Eve dinner posing in their beloved Bunnings hats, eager to get back to Ruff Wood Cottage and put them to good use.

Tragically, the recent Longwood bushfires have taken their dream away. On Thursday, 8 January, the fire reached the top of the hill behind their home, forcing them to evacuate with only what they could fit into their car. They spent four agonising days not knowing whether their home was still standing. When they returned on Sunday, 11 January, they discovered their home had been completely destroyed, along with everything they owned.

As they had only just moved in, they did not yet have contents insurance in place, leaving them with nothing to fall back on and no way to replace the essential items they have lost.

Beyond the physical devastation, the emotional impact has been overwhelming. To lose your home, your belongings, and your sense of safety in such a sudden and terrifying way is something no one should ever have to experience. What was meant to be the start of a new chapter has instead become an unimaginable heartbreak.

This GoFundMe has been set up to help Ally and Jeremy begin rebuilding their lives and the habitat for the animals, to replace essential household items and personal belongings, regain some stability, and take the very first steps toward recovery. Every donation, no matter the size, will make a meaningful difference and serve as a reminder that they are not alone during this incredibly difficult time.

I understand there are so many others facing the same devastating reality, and my heart breaks for everyone affected. This community has been left shattered. The shock is immense, and this is not how any of them should be starting the new year.

If you’re unable to donate, please consider sharing this page. Your kindness, generosity, and support mean more than words can express.

Thank you for helping Ally and Jeremy find hope after such heartbreaking loss