Wayne and Rachel Eve have been overwhelmed and encouraged by the support from the Bendigo community.
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The Eves' home was destroyed by a tornado on Saturday afternoon as wild weather tore through the region.
On Sunday, Mr Eve's sister-in-law Bronwyn Eve set up a GoFundMe fundraiser. By Monday evening it had reached $19,590 of its $20,000 goal.
Mr Eve said Bendigo had always been a very supportive town.
"That's Bendigo, plain and simple," he said. "Just the support we have had, even in the street, speaks to Bendigo. It has always been a supportive town."
Mr Eve said people he didn't know were offering all sorts of support and comfort to the family.
"People turned up with fish and chips while we were cleaning up (on Sunday and someone who we have never me rolled up with cheese toasties (this morning)," he said.
"It is so encouraging. There's so much going wrong in the world but this sort of stuff is really encouraging."
Initially, Mr Eve was reluctant to let his sister-in-law setup a GoFundMe campaign.
"I just thought it was our card that we have been dealt, so play it," he said.
"My sister-in-law said 'look, you know how you support other people, now it's you who needs it'.
"I looked at (the GoFundMe) this morning and saw four anonymous donations with $1000. You can't explain (that feeling) until you're in that situation. It is just so encouraging."
There's so much going wrong in the world but this sort of stuff is really encouraging... (Bendigo) has always been a supportive town.
- Wayne Eve
On Monday, the Eve family continued the clean up with people offering to help.
"The insurance guys are here, the tree guys are helping and a demolition company is getting stuff out the road," Mr Eve said.
"There's no question we will rebuild here. It is a magnificent community. We got people with excavators and tippers wanting to donate (their time). That sort of stuff is amazing."
Mr and Mrs Eve's property was destroyed by extreme winds which hit central Victoria as a cold front moved through on Saturday.
Mr Eve's wife and young son weren't home during the wild weather but Mr Eve passed out in the hallway after trying to film part of the storm.
Mr Eve said despite losing his home, Saturday was a lucky day.
"Once the shower had come through, I thought I'd just go have 15 minutes' sleep before Rach comes home from netball, and the whole wall fell on my bed," he said.
Click here to donate to the fundraiser.
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