October 12, 2012
An urgent call has gone out for men’s clothing – sizes large or XL – and boys clothing to help a Yarraman family who lost all their possessions in a recent house fire.
Melanie Routledge, who has made room in her home for the family of seven, said offers of help had come from various organisations but what the family really needed now was cash (or store voucher cards) and men’s and boys’ clothing.
Peter and Jenny Lamb have five children: a boy aged 2½, daughters 5 and 9 and sons 13 and 15.
Their house in Bunya Drive at Yarraman was destroyed by fire on October 7.
Police say there were no suspicious circumstances.
Four fire-crews attended the blaze at 8:44am on the Sunday. It was well alight when they arrived and although the fire was extinguished in less than an hour, by this stage the roof had partially collapsed and there was extensive internal and external damage.
Both Peter and Jenny were injured. Peter was taken to Kingaroy Hospital and then transferred to Brisbane for treatment for smoke inhalation and burned airways. Jenny was treated at Kingaroy Hospital for burns.
Melanie, whose daughter is friends with one of the Lambs’ daughters, took in the children.
“I picked the kids up from the fire,” she said. “When things like this happen, you just do it.”
Peter and Jenny are now both out of hospital and have re-joined their children at Melanie’s home. They’re now hunting for a new place to call home.
Donations for the family can be left with Melanie at Yarraman Auto Repairs.
Reports that donations can be left at the local Bendigo Bank are partially correct.
A spokesperson said it was not legally possible for the bank to open an account in the family’s name, however the bank staff were accepting cash donations, which would be receipted. A staff member will then purchase store cards from this money and present them to the family.
Toowoomba mayor Cr Paul Antonio left a $100 cheque at the branch yesterday.
Meanwhile, there are now 10 people living in Melanie’s three-bedroom house, but she says they’re getting by.
“Paul said to me ‘How will I ever repay you?’ and I just answered ‘We’ll have a barbie when this is all over’.”
