As if the devastation of losing their home of 45 years was not enough - a Kotara family has also had to deal with heartless thieves who have stolen valuable items from the ruins of their burned house.
Ray Jolliffe told the Newcastle Herald he felt "sick" when he discovered that looters had raided the wreckage of his home, which the family has been told not to touch until an insurance assessor visits the site.
Mr Jolliffe said he went to the property on Saturday and found many items missing. Thieves had ransacked the home on Thursday or Friday.
He is appealing for anyone who knows anything about the theft - or who spots items similar to what has been stolen online, at markets or in pawn shops - to contact police.
Rare crystals, sapphires, opals and other precious items were taken from secure places - many objects Mr Jolliffe said were too valuable to be easily sold-off.
They also took documents containing bank and credit account details, meaning Mr Jolliffe has also been forced to take preventative action against possible identity fraud.
But what has broken his heart most was the theft of sentimental items belonging to his 11-year-old granddaughter, including carvings from around the world, crystals and other precious pieces.
Many of those possessions had been given to the young girl, who lives with her grandparents, by a neighbour with whom the child had struck-up a friendship. That woman died earlier this year, Mr Jolliffe said.
"They used to really get on. All that stuff has been taken and she's heartbroken," he said.
"It's just made things very bad."
Mr Jollifffe, who was pulled from the burning house as he was desperately trying to battle the inferno with a garden hose on the night of May 2, also appealed to the thieves, saying it was not too late to anonymously return what they stole.
"I can deal with losing my stuff but my granddaughter, she's having a very bad time dealing with her loss," he said.
"There were some gifts that were given to her - very special, very valuable ones - that were her pride and joy and she used to cherish them. It's really, really hard."
