Top End campervan fire caps off ‘worst year ever’ for Territorian

After the ‘worst’ year of her life, Renee Harrington was ready to ’start a new life’. Read how she’s viewing the latest disaster as a positive.

Top Ender Renee Harrington is within her rights to call 2023 the worst year of her life.

Six months ago, Ms Harrington’s 15-year-old son died.

Her ex-partner went to jail last month for domestic violence.

“It was the worst year of my life, everything went wrong,” she said.

Determined to move on, Ms Harrington made plans to “start a new life” and organised herself a December getaway.

“I got everything in the campervan, I booked the caravan park and was ready to start my new life.”

Then disaster struck.

“I was preparing (sausages) and had stepped out for bit,” she told NT News.

“And suddenly someone was yelling at me that the roof of the campervan was on fire and I was like ‘f—king hell!’

“I’m standing there going ‘this isn’t real, this isn’t happening’ and then all of a sudden I’m rushing to find the hose.”

Despite Ms Harrington’s best efforts, the campervan could not be saved and she was left to watch her holiday plans go up in smoke.

“We couldn’t do anything and it just went up really, really fast.”

Renee Harrington watched her campervan go up in flames after hoping to start a "new life”.

Only Ms Harrington’s prized Virago motorcycle, “cute” summer dress and denim jacket survived – a sign to “ride away into the sunset”.

“You know, that campervan was bad memories, broken dreams, broken promises… it was all black,” she said.

“I saw it as one big cleansing ceremony.

“I still had my motorcycle which I bought in memory of my husband who passed away – and I get to ride away it away into the sunset.”

Ms Harrington’s Virago motorcycle survived the carnage.

Despite the “blessing in disguise”, Ms Harrington did have a gentle reminder for Territorians.

“Please, please be super careful this Christmas,” she said.

“That’s all I want is for everyone to just be super careful and of course love each other.”

Ms Harrington told the NT News she “looking ahead” for what the future held for her and her beloved Virago.