Community rallies around fire family
EAST GEELONG TRAGEDY
THE tight-knit Loch St community is doing all it can to support the grieving family of two girls who died in a house fire last week.
Hashem and Masoumeh Qorbani buried their daughters Sana, 3, and Saba, 2, in a traditional Islamic burial on Saturday.
The sisters died when their East Geelong bedroom became filled with smoke on Thursday after a toy started to melt on a portable heater, police believe. Their six-month old sister, who was in another room, survived.
Neighbour and Loch St spokeswoman Alison Corke said the Qorbanis were a “beautiful family” who would be the first to help any neighbour in need.
Mrs Corke said she and other community members were the girls’ “Aussie grandmothers” and, like many residents of Loch St, were grieving for the sisters.
“When the family arrived to Australia, Masoumeh was pregnant with Sana, the first daughter. Exactly a year and a day (after Sana was born) the little girl Saba came along and then the third girl,” she said.
“Myself and another friend from Queenscliff are the unofficial grandmas.
“The girls were just happy children. Happy, sweet, really loved and innocent.”
Mrs Corke and another neighbour Tim McKenzie said residents had come together to try to help the family in differ- ent ways. Some community members have helped tidy up the Qorbanis’ house so if and when they are ready to move into the property it will be homely.
Others, including Mr McKenzie, have established a Go FundMe page to raise funds.
“We were trying to find out how we would help them and help them quickly,” Mr McKenzie said. “We can know there is nothing we can do heal their pain but we want to get them to a state where they don’t have to worry about finances.”
Both neighbours said the Qorbani family had worked hard to establish their Moorabool St business My Kebabs and to connect themselves with the Geelong community since arriving in 2015.
“If anything ever happens Hashem is there to help in a neighbourly way — doing things. That’s just the way he is,” Mr McKenzie said.
Mrs Corke said all the members of Loch St were heartbroken to hear of the tragedy.
“We felt complete and utter devastation and grief,” she said.
“While we can’t ever know what they are feeling we have a good understanding.”
Mr McKenzie said all money from the GoFundMe page would go to a bank account that could be accessed by the Qorbanis.
Diversitat chief executive Michael Martinez said the refugee organisation had supported the family since their arrival in 2015 and would continue to provide assistance.
“Several of our staff have worked extensively with the family since their arrival in Geelong,” Mr Martinez said.
“We are all shocked and saddened by this tragic loss.”
To donate, visit gofundme.com and search for: Help the Qorbani family Geelong.