The fire left almost nothing behind but shifting amongst the rubble, boots crunching on broken glass and charred remains, Andrew found something else through his camera lens.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
or signup to continue reading
Written across the face of his father-in-law and in the postures of fellow salvagers was a sense of stoicism caught in the midst of almost overwhelming grief.
Andrew's in-laws were the owners of a property that burnt down in Chatsbury, 25km from Goulburn, in the early hours of March 6.
Making a tragic event even more keenly felt was the fact the owners, who have asked to remain anonymous, were in Sydney for their son's wedding.
Andrew said while insurance would cover the basics, there were some irreplaceable items that were lost to the flames.
"You get into a state of mind where you're going through the rubble hoping for a miracle," he told the Post.
"All the photos and heirlooms were in the house and they lost everything which is the most tragic thing. My father in law has a book collection that he's collected over five decades or so and that's all up in smoke as well. It's a lot.
"Miraculously there was one small family photo that survived, just a small section of it. It wasn't a particularly special photo, just a family portrait from around the 1930s, but that randomly survived."
Andrew has been traveling down from Sydney most weekends to help with the clean-up effort before the house can be rebuilt.
He says the way the community has rallied behind his in-laws has blown him away.
"The neighbours, every weekend we go down, come over bring things like banana bread and tea for everyone," he said.
"They'll lend us a truck. Everyone just gets stuck in. My father in law didn't even have to ask, they just showed up to help. It's been really really lovely. I don't think that would really happen in Sydney.
"They're well looked after by the community. There's a long and hard road ahead."
An amateur photographer, Andrew revealed he had largely given up on his hobby as life got busier for him and his family but was strangely moved the morning he arrived, instinctively reaching for his camera as he surveyed the smoky ruins.
"I don't have a job where I can express myself creatively," he explained.
"We drove down and my camera was just there and it was just one of those moments where something moves you to start. I hadn't taken a shot in four years.
"For my father-in-law, there's nothing you can do so he moves on and get stuck in. It's like he's going through his emotions by dismantling the house.
"I hope that some of my images invoke that sense of heartfelt stoicism."
We depend on subscription revenue to support our journalism. If you are able, please subscribe here. If you are already a subscriber, thank you for your support.
Our journalists work hard to provide local, up-to-date news to the community. This is how you can access our trusted content:
- Bookmark our website
- Follow us on Twitter
- Follow us on Google News
Make sure you are signed up for our breaking news and regular newsletters
