A heartfelt thank you
John Grono and Donna Andrews tragically lost their Bundanoon home in the bushfires that tore through the Southern Highlands in early January. Since then, a Gofundme set up by a friend has collected support from across the industry John has been part of for four decades, as owner of GAP Research and a Media Federation Hall of Fame inductee. Here, John and Donna offer their thanks.
Sadly, our home was destroyed in the Bundanoon bushfire on the night of Saturday January 4th.
It was a freak occurrence. An ‘ember tornado’ generated when the pyrocumulonimbus cloud that formed near Nowra collapsed and started the Morton fire. And also the Yuille Avenue fire.
Eerily there were no ‘red skies’ that you see when a fire is approaching. There was a ‘black ash’ shower which we hosed down on the house, the gutters, the decks and the verandahs.
Im sorry to hear John, I also live in the Southern Highlands with many parts of our community touched by this devastation. The community will come together and re build. Take care John.
Duncan.
Hi John,
I too, live in the Southern Highlands and had to evacuate. I was one of the lucky ones – my house is OK.
However, my colleagues in the beauty media have banded together and many amazing beauty, cosmetic and health and hygiene companies as well as individual PR agencies, have donated essential toiletries and the like (toothpaste, deodorants, shampoo and conditioner, body wash, lotions, skin care and so on).
Please reach out to me if I can bring you a delivery of these things to you and your neighbours who also have lost their homes. I know it won’t help you rebuild, but it will help you feel a bit better as you do so. Also, the cost of these things do add up, so hopefully it will save you money there.
Please feel free to grab my email from the Mumbrella folk.
Warmest regards,
Shonagh
Oh John – so sorry to hear this awful news but glad to hear you and Donna and the animals are safe. Please let us know if we can help you in any way possible at this terrible time. Leslie
John you have always been so incredibly generous with your time, knowledge and dad jokes – our time to support you and Donna where we can.
John so sorry to hear that news very sad. I have family in Bundanoon. They are ok thankfully. Thinking of you such a big thing to deal with, take care. KB
Hi John,
So sorry to hear this. We were due to stay in an Airbnb in Bundanoon, on Garland Road, that very night but we didn’t go.
Good luck with the rebuild.
Hi John,
Been a while so sad to hear and see the devastation. Hopefully insurance covered so you can rebuild both the physical and the memories. Thoughts and wishes.
Galvo
So very sad to read this John, but thankfully you all got out unhurt. Sending you both strength. Alice x
Hi John, so sorry to hear of your loss, heartbreaking to lose a home so magical for you. Best wishes for the rebuild, you deserve all the support we can give you. Take care. Deb x
Hi John,
We were relieved to hear that you and Donna made it out.
The Hopkins family was devastated to hear the news that the old family home had gone…
The best day of my life, marrying Milena was just one of the many precious memories we have of the great times had at that magical family home.
I hope you are going to re build another special home in the future!
Thinking of you both
Milena and Simon Hopkins
Our thoughts are with you both, always.
Dear Donna and John,
It’s hard to realise the home we built and the garden we created has gone.
A month later it’s still raw and emotional.
But it’s much tougher on you two. You have a thousand things to do including smashing through bureaucracy. Poor you.
Knowing your enthusiasm, drive and commitment, you will build an even better home and garden. And when you are ready we have a few hydrangeas that we can strike from our new garden that came from Oast House.
Our warmest and most sincere regards,
Linda and John Hopkins