Fire destroys home of ex-Docker Josh Simpson
Former Fremantle Docker and new Mullewa coach Josh Simpson and his family lost everything when fire gutted their home last night.
Simpson, 20, his partner Bobbii-Lee Comeagain and children Izaiah and Indi had only been in the City of Greater Geraldton owned home at Mullewa for two weeks.
They had recently bought new furniture and goods.
The family pulled into their Mullewa residence around 6.45pm to see black smoke coming from a bedroom.
Simpson, his neighbour and former Mullewa coach and Great Northern Football League games record holder Mick Wall and others tried to fight the fire with hoses.
“It was too late, it was too far gone. All I could do was watch. The fire brigade did their best but nothing could stop it,” Simpson said.
“I knew things were going to be hard, but you don’t think this will happen. But we will bounce back. I am an optimistic person, it could have been much, much worse.
“It could have been in the middle of the night and we were in there. We could have been cooked.”
The Simpsons are today sifting through the ruins of the home.
“We’ve only got the clothes we’re in … but we will survive,” Simpson said.
His biggest loss was a photograph of his younger brother Michael.
“He would have been 13 on Saturday,” Simpson said of Michael, who was killed in a road accident in their hometown of Yalgoo, in 2008.
“He was everything to me, I was going to give it all away when that happened.”
One smoke damaged item which did survive was a jumper Simpson was presented with from Rostrevor College, when he graduated from the football academy at the Adelaide school.
“The kids have lost all their toys, their games. Indi had a necklace she won in the raffle at the (Mullewa) rodeo last year,” Simpson said.
“Beds, quilts, televisions. Gone, all gone … but we’re still here and that’s all that matters.”
The family last night returned to the nearby home of Merv Comeagain, Bobbii-Lee’s father.
“We only just left here – now we’re back again with Merv,” Simpson said.
Mr Comeagain’s wife, Kath, is presently in a Perth hospital.
DONATIONS: People can help by calling/dropping to the Mullewa office of the City of Greater Geraldton (99611007), Midwest Disaster Relief (99215416) or financial donations can be made to Carol Young, secretary Mullewa Football Club, 0427611021.
