Inara and Rob Taylor were stopping through Katherine on their way back to the Latrobe Valley, Victoria after four months on the road, when their caravan burst into flames.

“We were actually starting to head home when we stopped into Woolworths to get some water, we were gone for about 10 or 15 minutes and as we got back there was smoke pouring out of our van,” Mrs Taylor said.

“I was in disbelief, luckily we were unable to unhook our car from the van, so thank you to the men who helped my husband unhitch the car.”

Emergency crews raced to the car park of the Visitor Information Centre to find the couple’s caravan burnt to its axles.

“The fire brigade are not sure what caused it but they think it was a 12 volt short, all of the gas was turned off,” Mrs Taylor said. 

“We lost everything, computers, cameras, smart phones, jewelry, fishing gear, photos, all we had left was what we were wearing.”

Although the couple has lost thousands of dollars worth of gear, Mr Taylor said it was the things with sentimental value they would miss the most.

“I was saddest to lose my teddy bear, it is a guardian angel bear, I have had it for 30 years,” Mr Taylor said. 

“It has been to every hospital  when Rob has had procedures done, our daughter gave it to him when he had his first heart attack,” Mrs Taylor said. 

“There was also a Valentine’s Day present from a few years ago, a poster two dogs that were cuddled up together that hung over our bed,” she said.

Mr and Mrs Taylor said they have been overwhelmed by the care and concern shown by the Katherine community. 

“A lady I had never spoken to before came and gave me a 50 dollar voucher, two other people came and pushed 50 dollars into my hands and another man 20,” Mrs Taylor said. 

“When people started coming up to me and putting money in my hands I just bawled, I could bawl now. I was so overwhelmed by peoples’ kindness.

“Strangers were coming over and giving me hugs, I appreciated those too.  We had so many offers of places to stay,” she said. 

“The great outback spirit is a live and well in Katherine.”

Mr and Mrs Taylor said “In a nutshell we want to say thank you”.

“We are very grateful to the people who came and spoke to us, assisted us and donated things to us, we do not know their names but they looked after us,” Mrs Taylor said. 

“It restores your faith in humanity, in the world we live in today, so thank you to all the people of Katherine for all the help.”

The couple had spent the last two or three months in Darwin and were travelling through Katherine on the way home to Victoria. 

“We have been travelling around Australia for the last 17 years,” Mr Taylor said. 

“This is our 5th or 6th caravan. For this trip we left in mid April to attend our granddaughter’s 21st in Geraldton, Western Australia.”

Despite losing everything in the inferno,  the couple have retained a fantastic sense of humour. 

“I lost all my fish and I had caught my biggest barramundi ever, after the ‘firies’ were done I should of gone and gotten it, it would have been cooked,” Mr Taylor laughed. 

“After 53 years of marriage you need a good sense of humor.”

The couple wish to thank everyone who helped them get back on their feet again after the fire including Woolworths, Brumbys, Shady Lane Tourist Park, the Op shops and kind strangers.