Daniel Turner reflects on the tragedy that struck his family last December.
Turner was driving back up the National Highway last December when he received a panicked call that changed everything. His family home in Albury was engulfed in flames and rapidly burning to the ground, two days before Christmas.
His parents, Rodney and Tracey, brother Joel and the two dogs all narrowly escaped the blaze in only the clothes on their backs, but not much else survived. They lost, essentially, everything, including a car. Rodney suffered severe burns to his arm and back, while Joel was also admitted to hospital.
The tight-knit Albury community wrapped its arms around the Turner family tightly. So did the Melbourne Football Club.
Demons list manager Tim Lamb, head of football Alan Richardson and interim chief executive officer David Chippindall all put their holiday plans on hold and made the three-and-a-half-hour trip up over the border to Albury.
They met the Turners for a counter meal in town and showed that they truly cared, bringing supplies, vouchers and clothes. They also replaced a treasure destroyed in the fire: a framed photo of the family in the rooms ahead of Turner's debut against Collingwood in the 2022 Queen's Birthday blockbuster.
"It was definitely a really tough period, not just in my life, but more so for my family; they are the ones back home having to go through it all. Thankfully everything is going well now," Turner said.
"You hear these stories where you lose loved ones, you lose pets. Although we are in a very, very tough situation, everyone got out, the dogs, the family were safe. At the end of the day, that is what matters."