Neighbours tonight caring for Brooke Street legend

NEIGHBOURS are tonight caring for David Oakley whose Brooke Street Inglewood business in the historic Jennings' Stores building was today destroyed by fire. David was rescued from the 1860s building by several nearby shop staff as the roof burst...

NEIGHBOURS are tonight caring for David Oakley whose Brooke Street Inglewood business in the historic Jennings' Stores building was today destroyed by fire.

David was rescued from the 1860s building by several nearby shop staff as the roof burst into flames about 3pm. His pet dog Snowy was also saved as CFA volunteers from Inglewood and Bridgewater battled intense heat and acrid smoke.

The 86-year-old was treated at the scene by paramedics and watch as specialist fire crews arrived from Bendigo, including the tower platform, to bolster resources and demolition crews later knocked down the building that had been unsafe and threatened to topple across Brooke Street.

David has owned the building and operated his business selling chickens and other rural supplies for more than 50 years. A fundraising guide dog had stood sentinel at the doorway for most of that time, continuing support for the blind that started with his late mother who was an early puppy trainer.

Brooke Street has been closed between Grant Street and Verdon Street with traffic expected to be detoured until at least mid-morning Friday.

Electricity was cut about 7.20pm after shops and homes had earlier been told to switch off their supplies at the meter. State Emergency Service units from Wedderburn and Bendigo arrived soon after and erected portable lighting before an excavator was moved onto the street.

Large and gaping cracks had appeared in side walls near the facade and the parapet has also cracked in the intense heat of the fire that took more than two hours to bring under control.

Loddon Shire Council engineering staff assessed a high rick of the building collapsing across Brooke Street before the demolition order was given.

GOFUNDME APPEAL

Within hours of the fire, Inglewood resident launched an appeal to help David.

Dean Lonza says: "David Oakley the owner, has run this business and is known throughout the district for raising and selling chickens on the Main Street of Inglewood. David is an elderly gentleman and his business and his chickens mean the world to him. Heartbreakingly, David spent the entire afternoon and well into the night watching his life’s work burn and excavators demolish his building.The aim of any funds raised is to help David to survive in the short term and help support him into the future."

The appeal link is

https://www.gofundme.com/f/david-oakley-recovery-fund

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