Cudgewa local launches fundraiser to help community rebuild

Josh Collings’ home was obliterated by the fires that tore through Cudgewa, but while sheltering in a community refuge he started a fundraiser to help his locals get back on their feet.

As Josh Collings lays eyes on the ashes of his Cudgewa home, the silence is broken by swearing and then ­laughing from his neighbours in his backyard.

They are trying — and failing — to catch Mr Collings’ three pet sheep.

Sheep being rescued from Josh Collings property. Picture: Tony Gough

The town is determined to do whatever it can for families who have lost everything else in the Corryong fire.

“This community is amazing. They are legends,” Mr ­Collings said.

Having fled the tiny Upper Murray town with his partner, Kate, and three-year-old son, Tully, as fire came over the mountains at 2am on New Year’s Day, yesterday was his first chance to see what ­remained. He didn’t return empty-handed.

Josh Collings returns to his burnt home days after being cut off by the fire in Main st, Cudgewa. Picture: Tony Gough

Josh Collings where his home once stood. Picture: Tony Gough

While sheltering in community refuges, Mr Collings set up the “Cudgewa has Burned” fundraising page to help his ravaged community, and it has already generated more than $50,000 of goodwill from as far as Canada.

Returning through the ­active fire grounds under CFA escort, Mr Collings and others deliver the first truckloads of water, food, generators and other vital supplies to begin ­rebuilding their town.

Convoy leave Corryong fires under CFA protection across the Hume River. Picture: Tony Gough

CFA trucks accompanied the convoy Picture: Tony Gough

But all that survives of his own home is a vegie patch and three very fast sheep.

“I am okay — it is only stuff. Everyone should remember it’s only stuff,” he said.

“But it is heartbreaking all the same. We moved here so we could build a little family.

“When we saw the smoke ­rolling over the back of the hill we just jumped in the car and got moving.

“We put the sprinkler on the roof and got as prepared as we could — obviously that didn’t help.”

Burnt down properties on Main St, Cudgewa. Picture: Tony Gough

Locals return to Cudgewa to assess the damage. Picture: Tony Gough

The homes either side of Mr Collings’ are also destroyed.

But, on the other side of Main St, Cudgewa, all the houses are almost perfectly in order.

“I am in two minds. If you have a young family, then you should just get out straight away,” Mr Collings said.

“But, if you look on the other side of the street and you know what you are doing … all the houses are still there.

“All the houses are there and they are still alive.

“But mine is not. I still think it was the right decision.”

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Of the 300 homes and farms in the surrounding area cut off without power and phone contact, emergency ­services far have so far only been able to access and visit 40.

With horror conditions ­expected to hit the area as early as late today, incident controller Leigh McKenzie said it was vital people left the region.

Fire crews will work through today in preparation for the expectation that the Corryong and Tumbarumba fires will link up in the coming days and greatly increase the danger.

“We have teams out in the unaffected area surrounding the fire because of the lack of communications in the area (telling people) to leave today,” Mr McKenzie said.

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Originally published as Cudgewa local launches fundraiser to help community rebuild