Resident of Riddells Creek who lost everything
From The AGE, a resident of Riddells Creek who has lost everything tells his story
3:56pm: Riddell's Creek resident told reporter Nick Toscano he counts himself lucky despite losing his home to bushfire:
A white shirt, pants and a tie - the clothes on his back - are all David Malaspina has left after his new home north-west of the city was reduced to blackened brickwork.
Mr Malaspina and his wife of one year lost their house and possessions in Sunday's fire - their clothes, furniture, jewellery, wedding certificate and prized wine collection.
"There's nothing to come home to" he said.
But the 33-year-old owner of CBD restaurant Spaghetti Tree says "someone was looking down" on him that day, because he usually doesn't open for Sunday lunch.
A gesture to let a regular customer celebrate a birthday, was the only reason he and his wife were not home when the fire tore through.
"The customer rang up later and was really apologetic but, to be honest, I would have been home if I wasn't there".
Mr Malaspina got into his car and left the city at 7.30pm, after hearing about the fire's worsening ferocity.
When he was driving past Sunbury, he saw the black and thought the worst.
His house was one of several destroyed by an unstoppable grass fire on Sunday, as strong winds forced flames through residential areas around Riddells Creek and Gisborne South.
"We are just gutted, but really glad no one was home, and no one was injured," he said.
"Bricks and mortar can be rebuilt ... and the plan is to rebuild".
Mr Malaspina, who moved to Riddells Creek from Kew last spring, said neighbours in his new community have been "wonderful".
"Even people I have never met before are asking 'Can I help you with anything' They have given us clothes and the local police officer calls in and checks on us".
"I'm wearing borrowed clothes, we've got no booze, no furniture apart from one chair, everything's gone ... but we've still go our chins up," he said.
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http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/v...ary-10-2014-20140210-32agh.html#ixzz2stPVPxfK