General News
27 May, 2023
Family spirit survives fire
A Wimmera family is full of gratitude for the outpouring of support they have received from the community after a fire tore through their home on Sunday night. Wenda Billman and Bruce Sartori's home in Jung was destroyed when a fire, caused by an...
A Wimmera family is full of gratitude for the outpouring of support they have received from the community after a fire tore through their home on Sunday night.
Wenda Billman and Bruce Sartori's home in Jung was destroyed when a fire, caused by an electrical fault, tore through the Main Street weatherboard property on Sunday night.
All members of the home escaped without injuries, including a number of pets, although Wenda's fish perished.
The couple had lived at the house for 23 years, along with their two sons Jai, 13, and Kayne, 16.
Wenda's niece, Adele Wheeler, her partner Cameron Task, and their two young daughters Saskia and Arvia Task, along with Wenda's father David Billman, were also living at the property at the time of the fire. All escaped unhurt.
"The whole house is gutted... it's gone," Wenda said.
But the family has been lifted by friends and neighbours who rallied around them straight away.
"The support from the community has been overwhelming, but that's the spirit out here," Wenda said.
"We may not talk much around town but when things like this happen, you rally around each other.
"You go and see other people and help them out, the community here is amazing."
Wenda, who was not home at the time of the fire, said she was proud of the way her family acted in the face of the emergency.
"Talk about being proud, though. All they (the family) were worried about was making sure everyone was out," she said.
"If it hadn't been for Cam and the boys, and Adele watching the little ones... they were amazing, I couldn't be prouder of my boys and my family."
Continued page 2