Brother and sister Glen and Jane Collins, co-owners of The Dock at the Kingston foreshore, grew up in Moruya, and have been hurting as much as anyone watching their beloved South Coast suffer in the bushfires.
The fires hit home in a tragic and personal way with the death of family friend John Smith, 71, who went to defend his Bodalla property on December 30.
He lost contact with his wife Josie and his body was found days later by friends and neighbours who battled to gain access to the property in very difficult conditions.
Mr Smith left behind "the love of his life", Josie, and their 10-year-old daughter, Emerald.
The Collins siblings knew Mr Smith because their mother, Glenda, worked at the Moruya TAFE with him for many years.
"He was a very humble, very generous person," Jane said.
Ten-year-old daughter Emerald has obviously followed inherited her father's giving spirit.
She received gift cards for her birthday late last year and rather than spend them on herself, used them to buy treats for members of the Long Beach brigade of the NSW Rural Fire Service.
The young girl delivered the gifts to the sheds in mid-December in brown paper bags, complete with handwritten, heartfelt messages to the firefighters such as "Thank you for spending YOUR time for OUR lives".
Tragically, three weeks later, Emerald's own father had become a victim of the fires.
The Collins', with co-owner of The Dock Ben Alexander, are moving to help Emerald and Josie with a fundraiser at the Kingston pub on Australia Day, January 26, from 5pm to 11.30pm.
"We hope to be able to relieve the financial stress and pressure for Josie and Emerald as they face what is ahead. Australia Day is John Smith's birthday," Jane said.
The fundraiser is a ticketed event. Tickets are $50 each and available through eventbrite, The Dock Facebook page or from The Dock. The ticket includes all food and beverages for the first two hours. There will also be live auctions, raffles and entertainment.
Jane said local businesses had been extremely generous donating items for the raffles and auctions.
"We need lots of prizes for the chocolate wheel, no donation is too small! Given the short time frame, if any donations come in after Australia Day we will be setting up an ALLBIDS fundraiser and we will continue to raise money this way," she said.
All proceeds will go directly to Josie and Emerald. A GoFundMe page has also been established for the family.
Jane also gave a heartfelt plea for Canberrans to continue to support the South Coast in the wake of the fires.
"A lot of people are either two humble or two proud to ask for help, but it is dire," she said.
"There's been no rest for them, whether they lost their home or their livelihood or a loved one, they have to keep going, there's no respite."
