Community
23 January, 2026
Community rally behind Grahams
THE community has rallied around Lismore Primary School staff member Pauline Graham after her and husband Leigh lost their home during the recent Skipton/Streatham fires.
A GoFundMe was created by Mrs Graham’s sister-in-law Helen Barrett, which has raised a total of $30,440 at time of publication.
Mrs Graham said it has been hard in the days since the fire for her and her husband, who is a CFA volunteer who saw the house burn down while working to protect others.
“We got a phone call saying a neighbouring property was on fire and we should get out,” she said.
“I had gotten things ready in each room just in case, and when the call came through my husband went out the front gate to check which way the fire was going and how long we had while I packed the car.
“He came back and said we needed to get out because we’re down the end of a no through road – there’s only one way to get out.
“We packed the car with what we could, and we left.
“We got up the road a bit and my husband got a phone call from his mate and he went to a property further north and got on a truck.”
Mrs Graham said she then had to evacuate Skipton as the fire continued north-east through Carranballac, stopping halfway to Ballarat to check whether her husband was alright.
“I asked him where he was once I knew he was safe, and he answered he was at home,” she said.
“I asked how the house was, and he said he was watching it burn.
“With that, he said he was leaving and going off to fight other fires and I continued on to Ballarat.
“We’ve lost everything – I managed to get some things out, but there’s others who have lost everything and didn’t get anything out.
“My husband stayed at a friend’s place for the first three nights and I stayed in Ballarat and came in and out.”
The Carranballac Cricket Club was also destroyed by the fires, which proved to be an additional blow to the Grahams.
“Our cricket club also burnt to the ground, and it was like our second home, especially for my husband,” Mrs Graham said.
“He’s done a lot down there, and his family was raised there – his uncles, his mother, his father, his brother and himself are all life members, so there is a deep connection there as well.”
Mrs Graham said they were trying to move forward following the fires and have been overwhelmed by the generosity of the community.
“We just can’t believe how generous people are,” she said.
“It’s from knowing people through sport, work and life – it’s far-reaching.
“We’ll be eternally grateful, and it’ll go a long way to helping us get back on the road as far as finding a new place and furnishing it.
“We’re in a house at the moment, and we’re looking for a more permanent residence – this money will go towards that.
“I just can’t thank everyone enough.”
To donate to the Grahams, visit www.gofundme.com/f/pauline-leigh-graham.