A meeting at the weekend of local residents, headed by Denise Green, has seen a community Facebook page established for Rex and Carol Cluff, while moves are also in place for the couple to receive a wheelchair-friendly home from Southern Cross Community Housing.

The couple’s daughter, Alison Hokin, said the family had been “blown away” by the support.

“We are just so grateful and never expected anything like this,” Ms Hokin said.

“We just can’t thank everyone enough, the support means so much,” she said.

“Even the local veterinarian clinic and Pets at Peace organisation where the family dog Peggy was cremated, heard about what happened and there was no charge,” she said.

There have been offers of special trivia nights to help the couple.

Information about possible fund-raising events for the family can be found at The Home That Rex Built community fund-raiser for Rex and Carol Facebook page.

Rex and Carol Cluff’s Cavanagh Lane home was gutted by fire while they were at the Prince of Wales Hospital in Sydney, where Mr Cluff has been a patient for seven months after breaking his neck in a car accident at Dapto in February.

The last 12 months have been extremely hard for the family, with Mrs Cluff diagnosed with a heart condition, Mr Cluff with terminal prostate cancer nine months ago and then the accident seven months ago which left him a quadriplegic.