When Mal James from the Minderoo Foundation's Fire Fund talks about providing people with temporary accommodation pods, he mentions phrases like "a replenishment of hope" and a "lift of wellbeing".
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Mr James was down in the Shoalhaven on Wednesday, July 22 to oversee the arrival of seven recovery housing pods, which will assist people who lost their homes in the summer bushfire crisis.
He has been a frequent visitor to the region since January and is working alongside groups like the Conjola Recovery team.
People, who work or live on the land, got to apply for a pod and they are being delivered this week.
Mr James, many times, has witnessed just what the gesture of temporary housing can do to a person.
One of his favourite stories involves an 80-year-old widow.
When Mr James first met the widow things were drastic.
"She had no spark in her eyes," he said.
Now the widow is ready for a new part of her life and will soon be moving into a new home.
Mr James looks forward to seeing her again when he picks up the housing pod.
The Minderoo Foundation's Fire Fund has great support from the NSW Government.
The recovery pods are self-contained, equipped with a 2,300-litre water tank and five KVA generator.
Internally, they have a toilet, shower and a small open kitchen.
The pods have functionality for use as a workshop and also for short-term accommodation with bunk beds included.
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Mr James enjoys his role.
"Being on the frontline is the best place to be," he said.
He gets all the hugs, sees mothers who can't speak because they are so grateful and watches as fathers cry because they appreciate the support.
Mr James said it was a privilege to help people in need but added he wished it [helping people who lost everything in a bushfire] was something he did not have to do.
The pods were delivered to Janey Cameron's property on Little Forrest Road on Wednesday.
Mrs Cameron is the Conjola Recovery team's Little Forrest Road representative.
Peter Dunn, from the recovery group, also watched the pods being delivered.
The Conjola Recovery team helped get the pod applications out to the community.
Between 70 and 80 pods in total will be delivered to the South Coast - with close to 45 having already arrived.
Meanwhile, the Minderoo Foundation is a modern philanthropic organisation.
The foundation takes on tough, persistent issues with the potential to drive massive change.
