children Tracey, Dylan and Robert with Courtney and Blake are re-building their lives after losing everything in the Narre Warren South fires three months ago. 30401Karen Randell and her
By Kelly Yates
A FAMILY who lost everything in the Narre Warren South fires say they are re-building their lives three months after the tragedy.
Karen Randell told the News that her family of husband Stuart and their five children were continuing to battle through the effects of the fire.
“We’re all up and down. Some days we’re sad but we’re sticking together and getting through it,” she said.
The Randell family, who are still living in Narre Warren South, often re-visit the block of land where their Langbourne Drive home stood in the hope of finding their lost cat.
Ms Randell said they lost everything in the blaze, including their two family dogs and two rabbits.
As a result of the fires, Ms Randell said her children were afraid of smoke.
“My eight-year-old often looks to the sky and asks whether he can see clouds or smoke,” she said.
“It’s hard as a mother because there’s nothing I can do. I can’t fix it.”
Ms Randell recalls the events of that traumatic day.
“My son ran through screaming that there was a fire and I grabbed the kids and ran,” she said.
Despite none of the family being hurt, their emotional pain was unbearable, according to Ms Randell.
“All we had were the clothes on our backs,” she said.
Ms Randell said the photos and treasured items destroyed were irreplaceable.
“It’s the Mother’s Day presents and the locks of our children’s hair from when they were younger that we can’t bring back,” she said.
Ms Randell thanked the community for rallying behind the families affected by the fires.
