Ms Scriveners’ rescue dog, Buddy, saved her family by alerting them to the fire which tore through their one-storey home on Friday December 19.

“I was asleep in bed and Buddy, a rescue dog, jumped on the bed and licked my face and woke me,” Ms Scrivener said.

Since the incident, donations have poured into the Glen Innes and District Community Centre to help get the animal activist and her disabled son back on their feet.

Glen Innes and District Community Centre coordinator, Brenda Beauchamp said the community response was astounding. 

“We did get a lot of donations here and a lot of people donated straight to where Judy was staying, with her neighbours at Red Range,” Ms Beauchamp said.

“They said that their verandah was full of everything.

“We had all sorts of things donated here at the community centre including household items and gift cards.”

After the incident Ms Scrivener and her son moved in with their Red Range neighbours, Danny and Fiona Hutchison.

Mr Hutchison said Ms Scrivener was very grateful for the generosity of the community.

“People donated so much … most of it was dog food and horse food, things like that,” Mr Hutchison said. 

“There were a lot of Christmas presents for her son ... everyone was donating.

“I went to the community centre the other day to pick up some more stuff which people had given like towels and sheets.

“At times like this it’s very important for the community to pull together, and they have.”

Mr Hutchison and his wife have known Ms Scrivener since she moved from Inverell to Red Range around three years ago.

Ms Scrivener has now returned to Inverell with her son and will begin to rebuild her life with help from the community.