Sarah Soars, Joshua Edge: Couple who lost home in Manning River get new property

Their wedding day was turned to chaos when their home sunk into the Manning River, but at least Josh Edge and Sarah Soars now have a new place to move into.

A young Mondrook couple have been gifted a new home after their last one went hurtling down the river when it was washed away in floodwaters.

Sarah Soars, 24, and the love of her life, partner Joshua Edge, 26, were dealt the cruellest of blows when floodwaters savaged their Mondrook rental on their wedding day, and washed it away downstream.

But just three days later the two lovebirds, who were forced to call their big day off, have been given a new place to live after a willing landlord, and some help by LJ Hooker Taree, added a bit of brightness to a very dark few days.

Sarah Soars, 24, with her fiancee Joshua Edge, 26

“They were really overwhelmed and they were brought to tears, LJ Hooker marketing manager Emma Newell said.

“The main thing is they now have a roof over their head and they were especially grateful for that.

Ms Newell said they’d be given the keys to move in April, when the current tenant vacates.

“It’s a cottage style family home,” she said.

“It‘s really nice for us to be able to give back for somebody that’s lost everything.

“They [the owner] were 100 per cent able to and willing to cooperate.”

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Sarah and Josh were due to get married on Saturday in front of 60 family and friends at Mondrook Hall on Saturday.

An outpouring of support has since flowed into the pair since their story was publicised.

Sarah said the couple lost more than $100,000 — a figure they have since surpassed with help of a fundraiser— worth of prized possessions, which are either still floating somewhere along the Manning River, out at sea or sitting in floodwaters at home.

“Someone has found my partner’s big wooden chest, though, which washed up somewhere with a bunch of valuables in it,” she said.

“But we’ll have to start again with everything, even our clothes.”

Josh and Sarah’s Mondrook rental floating down the Manning River at Mondrook. Pic Facebook

About 1pm on Friday afternoon, Sarah and Josh – who where high school sweethearts – left home to head into Taree to get supplies they needed for their big day.

The couple made it back home to Mondrook that afternoon, just, to pick up their wedding clothes, pyjamas, and take what they needed in preparation for the wedding.

Josh was staying at his mum’s place in nearby Tinonee, while Sarah was bunking down with her parents in Taree.

“Originally me and my bridal party were supposed to stay the [Friday] night at my house, but decided to go to my mum’s house in Taree because the driveways were getting flooded,” Sarah said.

“We thought we’d just wait until the morning before we cancel anything, because it said on the weather app there wasn’t meant to be much rain.

“But I woke up about 7.30am to a phone call from my partner, who said our house was flooded up the veranda and water was rushing in.

“He was at Tinonee, at his mum’s house, but my younger sister lives near the lookout at Taree West which looks over where our house is at the property. Usually you can see the paddocks, but she said she couldn’t see any grass at all … it was just covered in water.

Sarah Soars, 24, with her fiancee Joshua Edge, 26.

Sarah went to the lookout to get a grasp of the damage, and within 15 minutes, she could see the house moving.

“It was maybe just 10 minutes before I saw the house had started to wash away that I said to the girls, all the landlord is going to have to do is replace the carpet and the floor boards,” she said.

“But within a few minutes the house was gone.”

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The couple, together nine years, had originally thought about marrying in September last year but delayed their big day due to COVID.

This week, they were looking forward to heading to Coffs Harbour to enjoy a short honeymoon for a few nights.

“That won’t be happening now,” she said.

“I don’t think it’s really hit me that much yet … until I see my partner and we figure out we’re we are going.

“Obviously he has got his mum and I’ve got my mum, and our other family around town, but from living just us two to living with someone, it’s hard.

“But I am grateful that I even have somewhere to go.”

A GoFundMe page has been established by Joshua’s brother, Lyle, to help the couple back on their feet.

To donate, head to https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-joshua-and-sarah-get-back-on-their-feet