James and Kara Joiner will never forget the Black Summer Bushfires that destroyed their family home on their Bete Belong North farm.
The couple had sent their four boys – Billy, Angus, Charlie and Jack – away from the farm in the days prior so they could prepare for the approaching fires in the final days of December 2019.
They now believe no amount of preparation could have saved their home from the ferocious onslaught of the bushfires.
James and Kara took shelter in a dam before inspecting what little remained of their farm the next morning.
They lost farm animals, including 30 head of cattle, machinery and everything they needed to run their hay and firewood contracting business.
As they stayed with family members and thought about how to rebuild their lives and business, Mr Joiner contemplated applying for a concessional loan through Bushfire Recovery Victoria (BRV).
