Nat Bromhead
The current bushfire crisis has affected so many Australians and our hearts go out to each and every one of them.
The situation hit home this week with the Bicycling Australia’s Classic series Ride Director David Kemp, wife Holly and their little 2yo daughter losing their home to bushfire. To make matters even worse David was in hospital after a bike crash when the fire came through.
David, Holly and Rubi live at Cooroibah, just north of Noosa, and have spent the past 4-years building their dream home.
“It gutted the house, everything’s gone,” David and Holly told 7 News.
“I was home. It was terrifying, it happened so quick. There were embers everywhere. It became so dark and so black. It was terrifying. I can’t explain how quick it came. I drove out of the driveway with the little one in the car. It was absolutely terrifying,” Holly Kemp said.
“The worse thing is our little girl says ‘I want to go back to our house,'”, David added.
“The pergola caught on fire, then the wooden deck then the house … We have some awesome memories … now we have to start again.
Cruel Twist Of Fate
In an ironic twist David was in hospital the day of the fire, the keen cyclist suffering a dislocated shoulder and road rash after coming off his bike due to a cane toad jumping & locking up the front wheel.
“I was in hospital the morning it happened,” David said.
“Unfortunately I came off my bike the morning of the fire. It wasn’t a good start to the day. I’m just so glad that everyone is safe. We can rebuild our home again – it wouldn’t be a home without family.”
“We are just trying to deal with one thing at a time, and see where we go from there,” Holly Kemp told 7News.
A Go Fund Me campaign has been set up to try to help the family get back on their feet.
