Parkerville bushfire: Generous donations flow for Moody family that lost everything in Thursday’s fire

Generous donations are already flowing in for Parkerville families who lost everything in Thursday’s fires, including belated birthday presents for a racing-obsessed teenager.

The Moody family was left with nothing just days before Christmas when the fire tore through their home in just six minutes on Thursday.

The family rescued their pet dogs after Julie Moody saw fire creeping close to their home on CCTV vision and called her husband.

“We were having a Christmas dinner on Sunday night, so all the Christmas presents were there, so now we literally have nothing,” Julie Moody told The West.

But in one of two GoFundMe pages for the family, Shannyn Moody spoke of the family’s heartbreak as the fire claimed her 17-year-old brother Sam’s racing pride and joy and birthday presents from the day before.

Already, the pages have raised more than $20,000 for the family.

“My brother’s 17th birthday was the day before. He’s lost everything … this is the only home he’s known,” Ms Moody wrote in the post.

“He lost his rally car. It was his pride and joy. He has been representing the hills in his racing and was proudly sponsored by Hills small businesses.

“My parents and my brother are devastated and have lost everything! They managed to save their dogs, but they had to leave just in the clothes they were wearing.”

Despite the pain, Ms Moody said her brother had already received a replacement birthday presents from a racing sponsor and local business.

“For those of you following along, Sam was kindly gifted a birthday present from his sponsors at Auto One in Midland,” she wrote.

“Auto One is a sponsor for Sam’s rally racing car and has given Sam a birthday to remember despite the current horrendous circumstances surrounding us.

“Many thanks (to them) for helping give Sam a glimmer of hope despite everything he has lost.”

A second pair of fundraisers for Rick and Danielle Alfaro, who also lost their home.

Mr Alfaro had been fighting fires at neighbours’ houses as his burned down.

“They have been working so hard to renovate their new home and, sadly, much of their hard work has been destroyed. Many of us are desperately searching for a way to help Rick’s family, knowing that he would be the first person to help us all,” organiser Jill Freeman wrote in the post.

However, in a later update, Ms Freeman said Mr Alfaro had instructed the funds raised to go to the Parkerville Volunteer Fire Brigade instead.