Standing inside Dereel’s Community Hall, which in the past few days has been swamped with donated supplies, Peter and Victoria Dilley described how they’d lost their home and everything surrounding it when fire tore through their nine-hectare Camms Road property last Wednesday. 

“Everything we own, everything we worked so hard for, every beautiful possession we held so dear, everything is gone,” Mr Dilley said. 

“It still hasn’t sunk in that we literally have nothing left.”

The couple, who are expecting their first child in three months, said they had been living from “friend to friend” since the fire and were unsure what the next step would be.

“But we know one thing for sure and that is that we will rebuild here in Dereel,” Mr Dilley said.

“The outpouring of support and help in the community has been amazing and really reinforced why we love living here and being a part of this community.”

While supplies, including food, clothing and bedding, are all available at the support centre, so too is support from various organisations doing all they can to help. 

One individual was on site yesterday providing advice for residents on where best to rebuild for optimum fire protection. Another was there from a local machinery company, helping with grading and excavation needs. 

Mark Tricky, who only arrived back in Dereel yesterday, found his cottage in Banskia Road destroyed and said that without the support of community and donations he’d be lost. 

“The response from everyone has been nothing short of amazing and a huge help for what is a horrific thing to go through,” Mr Tricky said. 

“Anything we need is here, and if it’s not they can get it for us.”

The recovery centre will remain at the Dereel Community Hall for the next week.

The CFA has put out an emergency call for large amounts of straw and hay to stop dam water becoming contaminated with ash washed away by the rain.

Anyone wishing to donate straw, hay, or any other supplies can do so at the recovery centre.

patrick.byrne@fairfaxmedia.com.au