Shaper Josh Keogh's family home lost in South Coast fires
The media gaze may have shifted elsewhere, but two months after bushfires first threatened the NSW South Coast they're still burning.
Over the weekend they flared up yet again, with many houses razed in the Bega Valley. One of those was the family home of shaper Josh Keogh.
On Saturday, nor-west winds pushed the Big Jack Mountain fire towards the Pambula Coast. At 3am Sunday, the firefront was immediately south of the Keogh's Wyndham property when the wind switched southerly and began tearing north towards the home. By daybreak there was nothing left.
Says Josh: "My father Steve began building the home over thirty years ago and in that time it has seen the birth of children and many pets, the planting of trees and gardens, marriages and deaths, laughter and tears, and through all this it has become the beating heart of our family and the safe space that we can all retreat to when we need to feel the comfort and tenderness that only a family home can provide."
"My brother and I went out today to inspect the damage and from a lifetime of possessions we managed to only find a few small ceramic items amongst the devastation. It was an extremely emotional experience to witness the home you were born in reduced to nothing more then ash, rubble, and melted glass."
Steve Keogh suffered a work-related injury seven years ago leaving family matriarch Barbara the sole bread winner. Right now both of their lives are in disarray so Josh has started a crowdfunding account to help get them back on their feet.
Click here to donate to their fund
Josh brought north coast flair to the south coast of NSW, finding his groove in the Monad, a trad fish with modern accesories, and also the Salsa Twin. Despite having surfers such as Byron's Jasson Salisbury and Ari Browne riding his boards, Josh stayed true to this roots remaining in the forested far south of the state.
This year Josh decided to make just 125 surfboards, a decision arrived at after calculating the carbon footprint of his output. Wanna buy one? It's first in best dressed.
Comments
so sorry to see another family home in ruins. in my time on earth i have never seen so many fires in australia at the same time. it started late august last year. THE PRIME MINSTER KNEW THIS AND DID NOTHING. HAD HE ORDERED SEVERAL BIG WATER TANKER PLANES, IT MIGHT HAVE SAVED SEVERAL FIRE FIGHTER LIVES BUT HE FUCKS OF TO HAWAII, LEAVING AUSTRALIA TO BURN AND ITS STILL BURNING. MORE LIVES LOST, I HOLD HIM PERSONALLY RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS MESS WE ARE IN. FUCK POLITICS JUST DO YOUR JOB
my heart goes out to you and your family Josh. Wish I could offer you more than heartfelt sympathy and a desire that life offers you and yours a long, smooth road ahead for the rebuild.