Cobargo youngster Noah Marden is only three years old and already he’s seen more pain and loss than any little boy should have to endure.
When he saw his mum Amrei weeping after she learned her beloved yoga studio of seven years had burned to the ground, this special little man said something that helped her heal in an instant.
“Mummy, I’m going to build it again with my new toy drill and paintbrush I got for Christmas, and then you can stop crying,” big-hearted Noah told his mum.
READ NEXT: Brave volunteers and kind strangers: The unsung heroes of the devastating bushfires
Three-year-old Noah is doing his bit to help his mum.
(Image: Ben Marden)
Helping each other
“Once I’m up and running, I want to gift every one of you a 12-month membership to help with the healing – we’ve suffered enough.
“When Noah hugged me and said everything is going to be OK because we have each other, I wiped away the tears and looked at our beautiful little boy, and reminded myself just how blessed we are.”
Amrei’s beloved yoga studio of seven years burned to the ground.
(Image: Ben Marden)
Amrei is determined to rebuild her yoga studio to help others deal with their pain.
(Image: Ben Marden)Aussies lending a hand
In the second week of our Rebuild Our Towns campaign we cover Cobargo, a town 382km south of Sydney that was reduced to ash. “The strength and resilience being shown by our community is nothing short of exceptional,” says Cobargo mayor Kristy McBain.
“The amazing care being shown to one another will see us through. The holidaymakers our local economy relies on had to leave in a hurry, but we are hopeful they will return as our stunning natural environment and community heals. There is still much to see and do on the Sapphire Coast.”
Cobargo suffered devastating losses in the recent bushfires.
(Image: Ben Marden)How to help Cobargo
• Help the Mardens rebuild their beloved yoga studio and help the community heal.
gofundme.com/f/bikram-yoga-sapphire-coast-community-fire-appeal
• Shop at the Bowerbird Community Op Shop, which donates all profits back to the community.
• Visit or buy a painting from the Lazy Lizard Gallery, which exhibits local artists and crafts people.
facebook.com/thelazylizardgallery
• Support the Cobargo Community Bushfire Recovery Fund. Make a donation to the community fund and help restore the local economy and jobs, and regenerate the town’s natural environment.
gofundme.com/f/cobargo-community-bushfire-recovery-fund
• Dance along at the Cobargo Folk Festival in February.
• Drop by and say g’day to Cobargo Hotel owner David Allen. Tuesday is trivia night, and every Thursday from 6pm tuck into their schnitzel specials! It’s just $20 for a chicken, beef or pork schnitzel, chips, salad and vegetables, washed down with a free glass of wine or an icy cold beer.
• For Cobargo events, accommodation and information, check out visitnsw.com/destinations/south-coast/merimbula-and-sapphire-coast/cobargo
Rebuild our towns
There’s not a single Australian who hasn’t had their hearts broken by the horrific bushfires that have swept through our country. The road to rebuild will be long but as a nation we will: brick by brick, fence by fence.
Bauer Media launched this campaign to help our neighbours in their time of need.
Each week Bauer’s portfolio of magazines (print and digital), led by Woman’s Day, will shine a spotlight on a town sharing information with our readers about how they can help, from the best fundraisers to donate to that specifically benefit the locals, to products they can buy from that town or region that support small businesses there.
We’ll highlight the farmers who need fencing supplies, the schools which are short of books and pencils, the yoga school that needs mats or how to plan a getaway to the region when the time is right to bolster their local tourism industry.
The Rebuild Our Towns campaign is centred on the fact that practical help doesn’t have to cost a fortune.
Our love and thoughts go out to every person, but actions speak louder than words, so join us to make a difference and help our heartland heal.
