The Wauchope community have rallied round the Keaton family after their home at Toms Creek was burned to the ground.
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Kim Keaton was at home in Toms Creek near Comboyne with her daughters, five-year-old Morgan and four-year-old Mia when she smelled smoke.
She looked behind the freezer downstairs and there were flames, so she ran upstairs and got the children out into the car.
Kim rang Triple Zero and drove to alert her husband who works at a dairy farm nearby.
“It only took a couple of minutes, but when we got back, the whole house was in flames,” she said.
Luckily, no-one was injured in the blaze but the nightmare for the young family is that they lost all their belongings except the clothes on their back, and Kim’s car.
Morgan has Type One Diabetes, and has been ill for 18 months, so things have been tight financially for the family, and their house wasn’t insured.
“We’d had it previously, and then stupidly, we cancelled it,” said Kim, who is 20 weeks’ pregnant with her third child.
She says the positive thing to come out of their woes is the immense generosity of the community.
“The property that James work for have a two-bedroom cottage where we can stay until we find something more suitable to our family,” she said.
“And people we don’t even know have given us so much stuff: vouchers, gift cards, clothes, shoes. People have been dropping stuff off at my mother’s house in 47 Waugh Street in Wauchope.”
She is very grateful to businessman Adam Taylor and family friend Toynelle Wignell who have organised a sausage sizzle fundraiser this Saturday October 14 from 9am at Timbertown IGA.
It’s supported by Red Shed Hire, Cooper’s Bar and Grill, Hastings Co-op and Bakers Delight Port Macquarie.
HOW YOU CAN HELP
Kim’s sister, Em Reid says that with baby number three on the way, money is tight.
“We're asking for help no matter how big or small anything is helpful and we're very appreciative. My number is 0455 198 463.
“The family need girls clothes for aged five, six and seven, women’s clothes size 18-22 and men’s clothes size XXL. You can drop them at my mother’s house in 47 Waugh Street in Wauchope.
“There is a go-fund-me account https://www.gofundme.com/help-the-keaton-family Thank you for your donation,” added Em.