Kerri Gorton was left with just the clothes she was wearing when she escaped with her two grandchildren from a house fire in the early hours of Sunday morning.
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The 55-year-old had barely minutes to get to safety before her weatherboard home at the end of Dowling Street, Dungog, burnt to the ground.
She grabbed her handbag and threw it down the front of the property near the fence, but it too was consumed by the fire.
The tight-knit town has thrown its support behind Kerri who has given so much over the years to sport, particularly for netball and junior rugby league.
As a young mother, she was injured while playing touch football and now uses crutches to get around.
Daughter Molly said this was the catalyst for deep depression which has engulfed her a number of times over the years.
“Mum was very active and played all sorts of sport, but when she was injured she lost contact with the majority of her friends who were able to keep playing,” she said.
“She got depressed then and when dad [Clive] got sick and died suddenly 18 months ago she fell into another deep depression.
“It makes it hard because we [sons Kenneth and Adam and Molly] don’t live in Dungog anymore and aren’t around as much.
“We live in Newcastle, Bolwarra and Booral but it’s still not the same as being close by.
“And now with the fire and losing everything she is depressed again.”
While the house was insured, there was no contents insurance.
Kerri said that she only had old, second-hand furniture and no-one would want to go in and steal it.
She has lived in Dungog all her life, growing up at Quartpot and then moving into town when she married Clive.
Molly said the insurance company has been good and they are trying to find somewhere for her to live.
“She is taking turns staying with us three kids at the moment, but unfortunately there is no-where in Dungog to rent, so we are not sure what is going to happen,” she said.
“But we are very appreciative of what everyone in Dungog is doing to help.
“People are keeping in touch with us and we are grateful to Kim Francis who has organised a fundraiser at the Royal Hotel on Sunday, Lindy Hunt who is speaking to the large retailers for white goods and furniture and the Dungog Chronicle for accepting cash donations.”
For more information about the fundraising efforts ring Kim Francis on 0417 478 985, Lindy Hunt on 0429 825 570 or to make a cash donation by credit card phone the Dungog Chronicle office on 4992 1721.
If anyone is suffering from depression and needs to talk to someone contact Lifeline on 13 11 14.