Baby Harry is healthy and well and slowly putting on weight.He came into the world, just making the 2kg mark. He was welcomed by friends and family, a lot of them including brothers and sister: John, 15, Roberts, 14, Mariade, 12, William, 2, Clancy, 1.

It was a  wonderful month of excitement and celebration.

That celebrating continued two weeks ago when Lynda packed up the family and drove to North Star. They were going to the opening night of the Cleveland Hotel. As the new publican, it was Lynda’s new challenge in life.They decided to stay the night – thankfully.

Because when Lynda woke up the next morning she discovered life had thrown up a challenge she never thought she’d have to face.

Her Boggabilla home was a razed ruin. Someone – she believes she knows who – had sneaked into her house in Yeoman Street, set it alight, and vanished into the night.

There’s nothing left of her home. She and her children have lost everything.

Long-time family friend, Boggabilla resident, and member of the Boggabilla Fire Brigade, Gary Roberts, was one of the first on the scene after Police raised the alarm around 1a.m.

The Goondiwindi Fire Brigade also attended. “Nothing we could do to save it,” Mr Roberts said. “We were even worried it might spread.”

What frustrates and angers him, and Lynda, is that the home, which belongs to Mr Roberts, is just one of more than a dozen Boggabilla homes that have been razed to the ground by arsonists.“I’ve lost count, 13 or 14? There’s at least six within a block or two of here,” he said.

Lynda said a friend lost their home last year.“I felt terrible and I was so sorry for them, but, I didn’t really understand. I do now. thirty-five years of my life are gone. They’ve been deleted, erased,” she said.

Fridge and freezers can be replaced, antiques are a bit harder, but you can’t get photos and baby keepsakes back.

“A lot of people’s lives have gone up in flames there,” she said as she looked at the ruin of her home. It’s the little things that hit you the hardest. I can’t look at the wall and see the pictures of your kids.”

She’s battling to come to grips with why anyone would torch their home. Adding to the pain is her belief she knows who did it.

“I think its kids.” Mr Roberts goes further. He believes those responsible are being given alibis by their parents.

“Everyone is too scared to say who it was because they are worried they might get bashed,” he said. “It’s all out of control and we need help,” he said.

But Lynda strikes you as someone who won’t be broken by the challenges in life. “What else can you do? You can only move forward and make a go of it.”

She says family, friends and complete strangers have helped make that easier.

“The generosity of people has been amazing. I want to thank everyone who has helped,” she said.