A family was left stunned after their home was severely damaged by a hail storm, leaving them with golf ball-sized hailstones and a $10,000 repair bill.
Jonathan Walker and his family were at their home in Casterton, Victoria, on October 17, when it was hit by a wild storm that brought torrential rain and giant hail.
The terrible weather caused part of the roof to collapse and break several windows in the house while Walker and his wife were inside with their seven children.
“It was actually pretty scary, because it was so loud,” Walker told 9News.
‘When the roof fell, water started entering everywhere. It was so horrible. The hail was hitting the roof with such force that you couldn’t even hear yourself speak.’
When the storm finally stopped, the family realized that their house and belongings had been ruined.
Photos of the aftermath show rooms and beds were left soaked and covered in debris after the ceiling collapsed.
A valuable collection of instruments Mr. Walker uses to teach music was also flooded and covered in debris.
A family was left stunned after their home (pictured) was severely damaged by a hail storm, leaving them with golf ball-sized hail and a $10,000 repair bill.
Jonathan Walker (pictured with two of his seven children) and his family were left with a ruined home and $10,000 in damage after a hail storm.
The instruments included a collection of electric and acoustic guitars, a pipe organ and several pianos, many of which cannot be recovered.
Walker estimates the damage could cost more than $10,000 to repair, but said he doesn’t have home contents insurance because he can’t afford the rising premiums.
“I actually cried, I really cried,” she said.
Mr. Walker’s close friend, Sarah Huret, has started a GoFundMe campaign to help the family in difficulty, whom he has praised for their “remarkable resilience”.
He revealed that Walker is a “talented music teacher” and a “devoted father of seven children” aged between 14 and 39.
Six of his children, four of whom live with a disability, reside with him in the now-destroyed home along with his wife, who is battling dementia.
Huret asked people to help Walker get his family back after his recent battle with cancer.
The hailstones were reported to range from the size of golf balls to tennis balls.
“Unfortunately, his family is experiencing financial difficulties and cannot afford contents insurance, and the landlord’s insurance does not cover damage to the building, leaving him in a difficult situation,” he said.
“Every contribution, no matter how small, will make a significant difference.”
The Casterton cleanup began after the town was hit by one of the worst storms in recent memory, with residents reporting hail the size of tennis balls.
Roads were white with hail for hours after the damaging attack.
The Victorian State Emergency Service received more than 70 calls during the storm and spent days helping residents with their damaged homes in the aftermath.