The entire roof was torn from the Ardley family’s rental property at Cudgewa last Tuesday, exposing all of their possessions to heavy rainfall.

Mother-of-two Jenny Ardley said almost everything had been lost to water damage and mould.

Her husband, Jason, is on a disability pension and she is his carer, making the incident particularly hard on the family.

While the damage, clean-up and move to another property has been stressful, Ms Ardley is moved to tears when speaking of the help she’s received from the community, including from people she doesn’t know.

“People have been helping us, bringing us food and there have been strangers rocking up to try and help us,” she said between tears.

“There would be 25 to 30 people who have helped us out.

“People that we don’t even know have donated fruit and vegetables so that our kids have some stuff to eat.

“I don’t think words can express how grateful we are.”

The family, which includes Makayla, 10, and Markus, 8, have relocated to a temporary home at Corryong and are still sorting through the wreckage. 

SES volunteers had been able to cover the family’s possessions with plastic sheeting during the storm, but were unable to cover the roof. 

A neighbour rushed inside in a bid to save the pair’s wedding photographs and Ms Ardley’s wedding dress.

Paperwork, childrens’ toys, furniture and other items were damaged and destroyed, and the family did not have contents insurance.

Ms Ardley said it could take three to six months for things to settle down. 

She is hopeful the owner of the rental property may have insurance to cover some of their possessions.

Further rainfall since last week has also hampered efforts to salvage the family's property. 

“There’s quite a lot that we’ve lost,” she said.

While Ms Ardley said she wasn’t the type of person to ask for help, she had been urged to accept it. 

"It's amazing," she said of the support, which had come from groups including Towong Shire, her children's school, her real estate agency and other charity groups. 

"I'm just so overwhelmed.

"I'm very grateful to be a part of a community that is so supportive."