The commitment of those who helped build a house for four orphaned children following a shocking tragedy has been recognised in Wangaratta’s Australia Day awards.
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The house rebuild was named the community event of the year.
Graham Everitt accepted the award as the organiser, but paid tribute to everyone who donated their free time and materials to get the house built in just five months.
“This award belongs to everyone in Wangaratta, all the tradies,” he said.
Mayor Dean Rees also played a role on the organising commitee.
“It was just an amazing thing, I’ve never seen a community come together like they did,” he said.
Jason Reid was feeling “sorrow” when he started work on building a house for the four Holt children and their grandparents.
He knew Ora Holt personally and was shocked by the tragedy of her death.
But he said he has been left proud of the Wangaratta people who did everything they were asked when it came to the house.
“To achieve what we’ve been able to achieve is just outstanding and I don’t think it’s happened anywhere else in Australia,” Mr Reid said.
“It was time time act very quickly.
“To have four orphaned children under the age of 10 in the situation they were left in because of such a sad act – that shocked us into creating the foundation.”
The rebuild included working until very early hours of the morning to get the house finished.
“We now have four beautiful children who are housed, secure most importantly, and have the rest of their lives to live, albeit without their parents, but with the love of their grandparents and extended grandparents,” Mr Reid said..
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