Family members and friends of some of the victims of the Koolewong fires have started gofundme appeals to help them get back on their feet.

One of them is Shelley Murcott, long-time friend of Brooke (surname withheld), whose home in Glenrock Pde was razed.

“Brooke was out and about on Saturday when someone mentioned there were fires at Koolewong, so she raced back home,” Ms Murcott said.

“She raced up the 96 steps to her home, with fire on either side of her and firefighters urging her to get out, but she was determined to save her animals.

“She managed to rescue her beloved pig Pumba, but he ran off once outside, so she grabbed her dog and drove off with just the clothes on her back.”

Ms Murcott said Brooke made it to a friend’s place, distraught over her missing pig.

“Thankfully she received a message from some neighbours saying there was a pig on their veranda, so she got Pumba back and has since taken him to a sanctuary for now,” she said.

“I think she is still in shock but she’s doing what she has to do before she looks at rebuilding.

She wasn’t able to salvage anything from her home but the animals – I think it is the personal items she is grieving the most.”

Ms Murcott said Brooke had touched countless lives through her volunteer work with Marine Rescue and her support for Camp Quality programs.

To donate search ‘Brooke’ at www.gofundme.com.

Another gofundme has been established for Hannah, a single mother of two teenage daughters.

The family and their pets were evacuated with only moments to spare and are now trying to process the enormity of what has happened.

You can donate by searching ‘Help a mum’ at www. gofundme.com

Siew Lee has faced many battles if the past 10 years, including thyroid cancer and has learnt to be brave.

She was out in the city at the time of the fire, but one of her cats managed to escape and is currently receiving vet treatment but could still be lost due to an initial high fever and extensive burns.

Her other two cats remain missing To donate, search ‘Siew Lee’ at www.gofundme.com.

Elyse, her boyfriend, her mother, her one-year-old son and their greyhound luckily escaped the flames but have lost their home and every belonging inside it.

“Elyse has lost her house, furniture, clothing, baby essentials, important documents, and precious personal items that can never be replaced,” a family member, who started the gofundme appeal, said.

“She is now facing the painful and overwhelming task of rebuilding her life while caring for her little boy and supporting her family through this traumatic experience.”

Donate by searching ‘Help Elyse rebuild’ at www. gofundme.com.

This article appeared in Coast Community News, 11 December 2025.
Related story: Residents in shock after Koolewong fire claims 16 homes