Rosie and Family Bushfire Appeal

Nine year old Rosie Thompson, her mum Melissa, and her dad Nathan are currently living in a tent at the Bega Showground evacuation centre after a massive fire front tore through their property near Cobargo at around 2.00am on the 30th of December.

They have lost their cabin, and Rosie has lost most of her possessions including clothes, art supplies, her collection of board games, clarinet and bicycle. They've also lost their business (local pottery The Clay Hen),  and any income owing from Nathan's carpentry work as his clients' houses have also burnt down. 

Living in a tent at the Bega showgrounds has been very tough, with temperatures reaching up to 39 degrees (102 F) and the air quality deteriorating. The family have been relying on the wonderful volunteers at the evac centre for water, food, bedding and clothing while trying to use masks to protect their lungs.

Today (6 Jan) Nathan was finally able to return to the property to survey the damage. While the losses have been devastating, there has been a ray of hope. Nathan was in the process of building a house, which has survived the fire. If he can quickly obtain the funds to fix the melted underfloor piping and water tank, and set up a make-shift kitchen, he'll be able to put a roof over his family's head.

Any help that can be offered will be used to evacuate Rosie to Sydney to stay with family while Nathan and Melissa work to make the remaining structure habitable. They'll then need to look for ways to replace their possessions, and begin to rebuild their lives.