House badly damaged by October storms, but Katrina Walmsley survives

On the morning of Friday October 29, a vast tree came through the roof of Ms Walmsley's house, penetrating the room in which she was sleeping. Work to remove the tree was unfolding on Wednesday.

The local is no stranger to misfortune, yet her past experiences served her well a week-and-a-half ago. The family's former residence, in the Dandenong Ranges, burnt down 16 years ago.

"I've been through the disaster thing," Ms Walmsley said.

"You have to have steps in place. Falling apart is not going to help anyone."

Council workers and arborists have not stopped since June's fierce weather event. The wild conditions felt in late October have only exacerbated the demands faced.

With the Botanical Gardens remaining closed and parts of Victoria Park still ravaged, evidence of the power of Mother Nature can also be found in suburban streets.

The Walmsley property resembles a disaster zone.

A sizable tree, fully uprooted, rests across the front of the house. The master bedroom is no longer majestic, yet the room opposite is untouched, a desk evident through the window, an unaffected collection of pens awaiting use. A crane, an excavator, three trucks, and two utes line the road, each devoted to the task of removing the tree.

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Ms Walmsley maintains clear memories of the fateful morning.

"I woke up and I was being lazy," Ms Walmsley said, recalling the early stages of October 29.

"I thought, 'It's windy. I'm glad nothing's happened to the tree'. The next thing, it came through. I was under that and I crawled out at 5.46am to be exact.

"It didn't (make a noise). The wind was so loud; it had already been on the roof. From the security cameras, it took about 10 minutes to come straight through."

Fortune favoured Ms Walmsley.

"Only the good die young," she said, teasing her rascally side might have saved her.

"I've got two scratches here and one here."

Throughout the tumult, Ms Walmsley maintained a sense of calm.

"I crawled out and I called to my daughter," Ms Walmsley said.

"I thought if she's trapped, I've got to get to her."

The mother knew she had to get herself and her daughter, Kirrily, to the back of the house. She phoned her own mother and her husband Darren, based at Puckapunyal due to his army duties. Contact had to be made with the SES and insurance company.

"The sooner you let them know, the sooner they can engage people," Ms Walmsley said.

Pictures and a suitcase full of photos were grabbed. Three cats had to be rescued. Clothes and accommodation were organised.

There is much to unfold from here, a casual glance revealing the house's front and roof are compromised.

"The assessor comes in next Tuesday," Ms Walmsley said.

"After they have a look, the contents people come in and it goes from there."

The personal ramifications of the incident continue.

"It's been full time on the phone, engaging things, getting things moving," Ms Walmsley said.

"(There has been) inconvenience, stress, a few nightmares, a few jumps at night.

"I really don't like wind anymore."

Ms Walmsley has been overwhelmed by the support received.

She is appreciative of her employer, VicRoads. Neighbours on both sides have also been exceptional.

"The neighbours have been amazing," Ms Walmsley said.

"Ballarat is an amazing place. You know your neighbours here."

Ms Walmsley's philosophy is holding her in good stead.

"We're alive," she said.

"You can replace a house. So let's just move on."

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