Melbourne singer suffers another huge blow after both parents die

An Aussie singer has copped a staggering blow just weeks after both her parents died.

A Melbourne songwriter has suffered another huge blow after both her parents tragically died within three months of each other.

For the last few months, Jess Hieser has tried to put the pieces of her life back together after enduring one of the worst tragedies anyone could go through.

The songwriter, in her 40s, said her world fell apart after her mother Susan Foster passed away in April this year from a sudden heart valve leak that led to organ failure on her 76th birthday.

Just three months later in July, her father Karl Hieser was killed in a devastating house fire, while her brother was also injured in the blaze.

The matter is still under investigation however Jess said it is suspected the fire was started by a household heater.

Jess with both her parents. Picture: Supplied

Jess feels like her life is “falling apart” as she tries to deal with the heartbreaking losses along with her own chronic health issues that make it difficult to work.

“Losing both my parents in such a short amount of time was just unimaginable,” Jess told news.com.au.

“I was by my mum’s side when she passed and it was extremely difficult. She wasn’t lucid in her last hours, but said ‘Jess’ when I arrived.

“I am thankful she knew I was there.

“My father’s death was so sudden and horrific. I found it so hard to accept it had even happened.

“These kinds of losses really change you as a person. The grief was overwhelming.”

On top of these events, Jess has been slammed with a huge rental increase of $700 a month.

She said she is now “struggling to survive” and has no idea how she will afford to live with the “insane” increase.

Jess has been hit with a string of tragedies. Picture: Supplied

She has been creative since she was a child. Picture: Supplied

In Victoria, there is no cap on the amount a landlord can choose to up the rent by each week.

“We’ve rented this property since April 2022 and there have been so many issues,” she explained.

“They issued a notice to vacate in January 2023, however my health took a terrible turn. I was too unwell to move, and I won the VCAT hearing to stay.

“Another vacate notice was issued in April 2024. I had just lost mum and a close friend.

“We won that VCAT hearing as they were dubious about the owner’s reasons for issuing the notice.

“They have now set it to a month-to-month lease, but the rent has been raised by $700 a month.

“I just wish there were caps on this, it is an extra almost $200 a week I simply don't have.”

Along with the rent increases, she is also dealing with two inspections a week while the owner is trying to sell the property.

Her father was tragically killed in a house fire. Picture: Supplied

Jess is talented actor and singer-songwriter who had the world at her feet before being struck down with medical issues a few years ago.

The musician now struggles to simply get by day-to-day due to living with immense pain.

“I currently have an untreated frozen shoulder and a large benign but painful growth in my lower abdomen,” she explained.

“I haven’t been able to easily put on shoes or socks, or bend, drive, or use steps in a

long while, as any pressure causes pain. I teach where I can but this worsens my

conditions.

“I’m a survivor and live with lifelong PTSD. Of course, all the stress of what has happened in the last year isn’t helping.”

Jess has created a GoFundMe to help her get back on her feet during this unimaginable time.

“I never thought I would be in this position, but it has been hardship upon hardship,” she said.

“I have lost thousands in earnings during this time and I am still grieving my mum and dad.

“I hope to one day be able to resume acting and music performances.”

Rents in Melbourne have reached record highs as demand for properties outweighs the current supply.

Jess is a talented actor and singer-songwriter. Picture: Supplied

The weekly median asking rent for a house in the city has hit $580, up $30 from the same time last year, according to the latest Domain Rental Report for the September quarter.

Rents for units have also increased by $30 a week in the last 12 months, to a medical of $550.

“Landlords are taking every opportunity they can to increase rents,” Maiy Azize, spokeswoman for Everybody’s Home – a group campaigning to fix the housing crisis – told news.com.au in June.

“There have been huge rent increases year-on-year and major increases since the pandemic.

“We need these reforms to be passed alongside caps to rental increases they have in ACT – they go hand-in-hand.

“Housing hasn’t collapsed in the ACT with these requirements.

“We have just got people living in homes that are of a decent standard and their rent increases are capped to 10 per cent of CPI, which is very reasonable.”