A Tasmanian shop owner had recently lost her husband just four weeks before a devastating blaze tore through and destroyed their small-town general store.
Kerrie Sinclair had battled through road closures, the challenges of COVID-19 and floods to keep the doors of the Nunamara General Store open for the past 22 years before the business was “gutted” yesterday.
The electrical fire ignited around 12pm on Wednesday and is believed to have “started in the roof”.
Now, she is determined to rebuild.
“I lost my husband four weeks ago, now I’ve lost my business,” she told 7 Tasmania.
“But I’ve got the community. It’s overwhelming. I didn’t realise that I actually had a lot of people around.”
Among the losses in the fire were cabinets built by her late husband Doug and thousands of dollars worth of stock and equipment.
Staff were able to rescue all parcels and letters as the building burned, but now the small town, around 20 minutes from Launceston, has been left without a post office.
Instead, local residents will have to travel to Kings Meadows.
“At the moment … we’re going to rebuild and we’ll make it bigger and better,” Sinclair said.
Local MP Michelle O’Byrne MP said the fire was “devastating” for Sinclair and the local community.
“It’s been a tough time for Kerrie and Nunamara General Store. My heart goes out to her on the very recent loss of Doug,” she said.
“I’ve worked with Kerrie on challenges before, she is tenacious and I know she will rebuild. Let’s support her as she does!”
