Community
25 October, 2023
Community rallies
A HOUSE fire in Koroit on the weekend has left a young couple with little more than the clothes on their backs.
Jimmy McLeod and his partner Sarah Moroney lost their home and belongings when fire ravaged their North Street property shortly before 3pm Sunday.
The pair, who are both members of Hampden League club the Cobden Bombers, have since been overwhelmed by the support of the Cobden community which has rallied to help.
A GoFundMe page, set up earlier this week by a friend of the couple, has already raised more than $27,000 as locals dig deep and give what they can to the popular couple.
Fortunately, they were not home when the fire broke out. Cobden Football Netball Club spokesperson Sophie Hinkley said the popular couple were well known both at the Bombers and within the local community and the club would do all it could to support them as they begin the recovery process.
“The power of community connections really comes through in times like this,” Hinkley said.
“We spend all year celebrating and commiserating wins and losses on the field or court, but loss and tragedy puts things into perspective.
“This is when our commitment and connection to one another is most important and we’re so glad that the club and broader community has come together to support Jim and Sarah at this time.”
It’s believed the couple, who are engaged and plan to marry in the near future, had been renovating the property since purchasing in recent times.
Sadly, their pet dog was lost in the fire.
Preliminary investigations indicated the cause of the blaze was not suspicious.
Much of the house was destroyed and parts of the roof had collapsed.
Local CFA units brought the blaze under control just after 4pm.
Responding to the fundraising on social media, Sarah said they were “beyond grateful.”
“We have no words for the support and love we’ve received from everyone, especially the Cobden community,” she wrote.
