THE Bomaderry community is rallying behind one of their own, holding a benefit night for a family that lost everything in a fire earlier this month.
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Wayne and Joanne Stewart’s Housing Department home in Sampson Crescent was destroyed in a fire on August 12.
Uninsured, the family literally escaped the fire with the clothes they were wearing.
Mr Stewart has diabetes, heart problems and undergoes dialysis three times a week at Shoalhaven Hospital.
The couple has four older children, one of whom lives with then to help care for her father, while they also look after their 11-year-old granddaughter.
The family was given short-term accommodation in a local caravan park, with the department finding them another home in Nowra in a little over a week.
After hearing their plight, distant cousin James Stewart, who also manages the P. Walsh and Sons Mitre 10 store in Worrigee Street, Nowra, kicked into gear, helping them set up a new home.
Through contacts and friends he has been able to get the family furniture, turning their bare house into a home.
“They literally had nothing, just the house,” Mr Stewart said.
“They were going to stay in it like that, grateful just to have a roof over their heads.”
He contacted friend Bill Garrick, who had arranged and staged major fund-raising events for Queensland flood victims, and he started planning a benefit appeal.
A phone call to John Gomez at Eveready Mini Storage at South Nowra resulted in some left-over furniture, which the family gladly accepted.
“We’ve staged a few working bees to get everything set up for them,” Mr Stewart said.
“It’s hard. We just want Wayne and Joanne to get re-established,” Mr Stewart said.
“Appeals on social media have seen them receive further items of furniture and their home is slowly coming together. We got the basics like beds, a dining table, crockery, and cutlery – the bare essentials.
“Wayne is pretty proud. He’s not the sort of bloke who would ask for help. Even when we were at the storage units there was really good furniture available but he took just what he needed.”
Wayne’s sister, Pam Stewart, said the family was very grateful for what they have already been given.
“They have been overwhelmed with the help and support,” she said.
The couple are still highly emotional about the fire, so much so they couldn’t even return to the home for a photograph to accompany this article.
Although their lives are slowly getting back to normal, friends and family are now banding together to stage a benefit night for the couple.
It will be held at the Bomaderry RSL on Saturday, September 13 from 6.30pm.
The cost is a gold coin and there will be raffles, auctions and table games with a number of prizes up for grabs.
There will be karaoke, the Doonooch Dancers and other forms of entertainment.
Organisers are hoping local businesses now come on board and support the evening with prizes, donations or vouchers.
“We have had great support already and a number of items have been donated for the night,” Mr Stewart said.
“We would really like to raise some money for them so they can go and buy things – personal items,” Mrs Stewart said.
If you would like to help with the benefit night or donate items, contact Bill or Kath on 4421 6002 or 0401 172466.