By ANNIKA SMETHURST

WITH the first anniversary of the tragic Black Saturday fires this weekend many of those affected will be reminded of the tragedy.

For the Lightburn family, the past year has been anything but easy.Mum Jenna said she would not mark Sunday’s anniversary with tears or sorrow, instead the young Bendigo family intends to celebrate six months in their newly-constructed home and prepare for next month’s wedding.

Twelve months ago Jenna and husband Arron were a young couple dealing with the ups and downs of life with two young children but their life changed on the afternoon of February 7 as their house and its contents were destroyed by fire.

Meeting this delightful family in their stunning new house it is difficult to imagine the struggle of the past year.

“It feels like a really long time ago, Lexi, our youngest, wasn’t even crawling when it happened and she was running when we moved back in,” she said.

“All year we really only had one aim and that was to get our kids back in a home, and we did it.”

It was one year ago as a record spell of heat was continuing that Jenna, Arron and their two daughters Bella, 3 and Alexis, nine months, sought refuge at a family member’s pool that the tragic events unfolded.

“We were out at my sister-in-laws in Kangaroo Flat swimming because it was so hot and mum rang, she’d heard about the fires because dad was on the strike team in Kilmore,” Jenna said.

“My mother-in-law and I drove back but by the time we got from Kangaroo Flat to Long Gully I had to scream at a lovely policeman to let me in and get my dogs, the fire was that close.

“As we were driving up the driveway I could see the fire next door, it was pretty close, I knew then we would lose our home.

 “I was just glad the kids weren’t here, you don’t have much time to think.”

Returning to the remains of their home that evening Jenna and Arron only managed to retrieve a few pieces of unwearable jewellery and one yellow coffee mug.

Memories from their life together were destroyed including Jenna’s wedding dress and other items from their special day.

In the spirit of recovery, Jenna and Arron will celebrate their survival with a renewal of vows service next month so they can celebrate with family and friends and start a new collection of special items from their life together.

“We’re renewing our vows because we don’t really have anything from that day,” she said.

“I ran past my wedding dress four times when I came back into the house and didn’t think to grab it, but we have all our photos backed up.

“I have had my wedding pictures printed but I can’t hang them up because I don’t like looking at them anymore because I don’t have my dress.

“It’s silly because it’s just a dress, but it was special.”

Jenna said she was excited about next month’s renewal and intends to proudly display the new photos.

“This isn’t going to bring back or replace all the stuff we had from the day but I just think it will be nice to do it again with family,” she said.

 “It was a make-or-break situation and we came out better for it.”

“We were gob smacked by some of the support we got, from people we have never ever met.”

The Lightburn family said they were astonished by one particular act of kindness when the Albury Swim Centre heard of their loss and raised money to send to the couple.

“I don’t even know where Albury is, let alone know anyone from Albury, it was just extraordinary, people have just been amazing,” Jenna said.

“We didn’t know anyone around here beforehand and we speak to everyone now on a regular basis.

“It has become easier for us but I think we are in the opposite situation to a lot of people.

“We were the youngest around here and that first six months was really hard for us, trying to do everything with two little kids.

“We’ve still got babies and they are going to grow up in this house and not know any different, whereas a lot of people had a lifetime of memories which are gone and they can’t replace them.

“I think we will struggle a little bit but not as much as some other people around here.”

Behind the positive events and acts of kindness sadness lingers and sneaks up on survivors when they least expect it.

“Every day you go and look for something and you can’t find it because it was in your old kitchen not your new one,” Jenna said.

“I guess I am a lot more aware of what is happening around me, and I have a very acute sense of smell now, that’s what sets me off now I can’t handle that smell.

“I remember standing in the paddock and there was a fire truck on the hill and I just stood there for ages watching the lights on top of it and I think for three weeks after that, every time I closed my eyes I saw flashing lights and I couldn’t really sleep, it was hard.

“Some peope struggle with it a little more than others but we have taken the what’s done is done approach.”

With two young children, important careers and a wedding to plan, the Lightburn family is keeping busy and looking to the future.