their belongings destroyed in a Sanctuary Point house fire on Tuesday morning is heartbreaking.

The couple pause to pick a photo of their four-year-old son Toby sitting on Santa Claus’s knee, brush away the ashes and glass – one more precious memory saved.

The couple lost everything, apart from a few photos and some clothes, when a fire destroyed the home they were renting.

They did not have any insurance.

They had not long got their television and washing machine off lay-by and like everything else the appliances are gone and they face a battle to try to replace everything.

“I hate this feeling of needing to ask for help, but we just can’t afford to do it by ourselves,” Ms Slattery said.

“We worked so hard to get these nice things for Toby and now they are all gone.

“It makes you feel like you did not deserve them in the first place.”

Mr Dolphin lost all his tools and car parts, which will cost thousands of dollars to replace.

He was at work when the home was engulfed.

“The important thing is that nobody was hurt,” he said

It was Toby who stumbled on the fire and his scream woke his mother.

Ms Slattery said waking up with the home in flames was terrifying.

Toby, like his parents, is still traumatised by the fire.

Ms Slattery is grateful the ashes of her late brother Ricky and some of his pictures were saved, but many other memories were lost.

“It’s like losing him all over again,” she said.

Her brother was killed in an accident on the Princes Highway, South Nowra in 2004.

People interested in helping the couple replace their belongings should call 4443 8505