Noosa fire: Sir Richard Branson offers Makepeace Island resort to victims

BRITISH billionaire Sir Richard Branson has once again proved himself a man of the people with his response to the destructive Sunshine Coast bushfires.

Richard Branson at his private resort, Makepeace Island, on the Noosa River.

• Blaze closes motorway
• Noosa homes lost

BILLIONAIRE Richard Branson has shown himself to be the best of neighbours by opening up his Makepeace Island Resort for victims of the Noosa North Shore fires that claimed three houses on the weekend.

Makepeace Island, which sits across the Noosa River from the four worst-affected homes — three of which were destroyed — is now a gratefully accepted sanctuary for four families, who all know their benefactor through his visits to the resort.

The exclusive resort was in the news earlier this year when pop sensation Justin Bieber stayed there during his Australian tour.

It wasn’t the only offer of accommodation the affected families received, but being just a short boat ride from the destruction carnage it was most gratefully received.

As Mike and Lynne Hancock picked through the rubble of their home yesterday, seeking out any salvageable mementos, their eyes were looking more to a future and rebuilding from the ashes.

Neighbour Dave Wright has some rebuilding to do himself, but had nothing but praise for urban firefighters and volunteers from the local North Shore Rural Brigade who have ensured it will be only one wall of the family house that he wife Kim and son Brodie have called home since 2000.

Among those who responded immediately to the unfolding disaster were 90-year-old Ken Bridges, who remains an active member of the brigade, and ferry driver Billy Broadhurst who was dressed in his best and on his way to a wedding when he spotted the flames from Tewantin.

“Bill saw the flames and came straight here and was on a fire hose without changing,” Wright said. “It heartens the spirit to see the community pull together like this.”

Yesterday, the three homes were a jumble of roofing sheets, twisted metal posts and the ashes of clothing, furniture and appliances. Somewhere under the rubble was a brand new Dodge V12 four-wheel drive.

Mr Hancock still has his four-wheel-drive, but the snorkel and the rear tyres simply melted from the radiant heat as did his water tanks, all the way down to a water line that was low due to the ongoing dry spell.

All affected homeowners were insured, with Mr Wright saying they had rejected offers from others to do fundraising because they would all be able to regather and move on.

Michael Hancock stands in the ashes of his house on Noosa North Shore.

Mrs Hancock said the battle that a friend was now having with a terminal illness and the loss of their own son at just 22, had put the events of the weekend into perspective.

“If it was not for the urban fire service we would have lost our place,” Mr Wright said. “Someone turned up with food, sandwiches and pea and ham soup. I don’t even know their names.”

The Hancocks were also stunned to receive a call from Michael Teevan who had mounted a collage of photos of their late son’s artwork, a favourite piece in the Hancock home. Not only had Mr Teevan located the original image, he also offered to remount it on canvas so that it could take pride of place in the Hancocks’ new home.

“We will be forever grateful,” Mr Hancock said.

As they sifted through the wreckage, the family was also able to retrieve a bust their son had made. It was cracked but repairable.

Money squirrelled away towards Mr Hancock’s planned 70th birthday trip to Hawaii has gone, as has a priceless Lalique vase and an irreplaceable antique sideboard, also reading glasses, birth certificates, passports and other papers.

On any other day, Mr Hancock said the carnage wouldn’t have occurred, but the strength of the wind was in his words “unbelievable”.

Fire officer Brenden Riches, who attended the scene, agreed. He said the wind sent the flames in a straight line engulfing the two properties to its west.

Security is in place to deter any potential looters.

Aerial view of the Makepeace Island resort on the Noosa River.