It is almost unthinkable that seven homes in the family of great-great-grandfather Ron Corby were lost when the New Year's Eve bushfires devastated the Cobargo region.
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That terrible toll also includes his own 150-year-old home that sat on a hill overlooking the town, in which his mother lived before he moved in 30 years ago.
But on Tuesday afternoon a big smile did not disappear off Ron's face, because his new house arrived at his block on the back of two trucks while he watched on, surrounded by his family.
"It's terrific," the 88-year-old said.
"Family, that's what I really am thankful for."
His granddaughter Tammie Jee, who also lost her home at Wandella in the fires, said Ron's house had served as a meeting place for her family.
"We all just grew up here, swinging off Granny's clothesline," she said.
"But we'll all have new memories in this house now."
Tammie said her family was very close, in spirit and in the fact they live nearby to each other.
"We just stick together," she said.
"We're all giving each other advice, if we hear something happening we always tell the others.
"It's a hard one because so many of us have lost their houses - even a couple of my best friends lost theirs. But we're all staying pretty positive."
Another family member is Wayne Keft, who lives on Quinlans Rd between Cobargo and Quaama, and said both he and his partner, who is one of Ron's daughters, lost their homes in the blaze.
The couple exhibit poultry at agricultural shows and before the fires hit they put their birds where they thought they would be safe.
Despite their attempts they lost about 200, including a few rare breeds "that got wiped out", Wayne said. But he too was staying positive.
"We've still got a few [birds], we'll get started again," he said.
"Really you've got to look after yourself, you've got to look after your family first, and what happens after that happens."