(L-R) Six-month-old Maggie and three-year-old Sam with their Trauma Teddies. Chelsea say’s Sam has not let the bear out of her sights since the fires and Maggie has been sleeping with her bear every night.
Red Cross volunteers were on hand to help them fill out their evacuation forms, provide them with food and water and were even able to bring in special formula for Chelsea’s six-month-old daughter Maggie.
“I can’t believe they got the formula in, when my Mum gave me that I was just in tears. That was the biggest thing, because I thought, what am I going to do with her? I’m going to have to give her something that might upset her. It was just incredible,” says Chelsea.
Red Cross also organised emergency accommodation for the family once they had been airlifted to safety.
“We didn’t expect that. When we saw that they had assigned us our own apartment I just melted…we were going to be grateful for anything, but the fact that they knew we were a young family and put us as a priority…I was just so emotional. I got in the shower that night and just cried.”
Chelsea and her family are safe now, back at home and starting on the long road to recovery. They are still processing the terrible events they have endured, but are grateful for the help they received.
Red Cross are helping people every day. It’s those little things that make you feel that little bit better about what’s happening. If they weren’t there, I don’t even want to think about it. We were just so grateful,” says Chelsea.

(L-R) Chelsea’s husband Corey, Chelsea and their two daughters being airlifted to safety after surviving catastrophic fires in Mallacoota, Victoria.