'Eight-storey flames': The Block's Deb and Andy's home under threat from bushfires
With Australia’s most watched auctions fast approaching, the nerves have well and truly kicked in for The Block contestants. But for Deb and Andy, their nerves were at whole other level this morning.
Bushfires are currently affecting many parts of northern NSW, with the couple’s family home located in Wallabi Point on the mid-north coast caught up in the emergency.
Speaking on Your Domain, The Block’s Scott Cam revealed the couple’s family were staying at a relief centre.
“I just spoke to Andy not that long ago. He’s obviously concerned about his kids and family. But they’re at the moment safe in a centre where most of the people from Wallabi Point have gone,” Cam told Your Domain on Saturday morning.
“He was saying that there were eight-storey flames a hundred metres from his home, and he was obviously very concerned.
“At this stage, his house is safe, his family is safe. And he’s in really good spirits considering the situation he’s in.”
Speaking ahead of the five properties auction, Cam said the mood amongst the couples was tense.
“Auction day is always a tough day, it’s exciting but it’s very nervous, everyone is very nervous,” he said.
“Anything can happen… the buying public determines the winner of [The Block]”.
What’s next for The Block contestants?
It’s no doubt this year’s “biggest Block ever” has left all couples utterly exhausted, but for many of them, The Block is just the beginning.
Jesse and Mel have caught the renovating bug, but agree it was time for a bit of a break after the intensity of their time on the show.
“Look, this year I said no more renovating, but next year I’d love to get back into it,” Mel told Your Domain’s Chris Kohler. “But it was hard, it was very hard. Huge houses, but you had to do most of the work so you could have nice features, and we did well.”
Jesse has recently joined Albert Park real estate agency The Agency as a partner. The seasoned auctioneer has been back in action since the bulk of filming ended, including auction of an ex-Block apartment in August.
Tess and Luke’s time on The Block became increasingly difficult, almost running out of money towards the end, with doubts the pair would have a finished room by the end.
“As everyone who watched the show knows, we had a pretty hard time and didn’t quite think that we’d make it to auction day. So yeah, we are over the moon to be here,” Luke said.
But despite the struggles, they’re not saying goodbye to property too fast.
“I think we need to have a bit of a breather after this and coming up to Christmas. We’ll spend lots of family time together, you know. We’ve just sold our home, so we might be on the house hunt again soon, and we might be moving cities,” Tess said.
As for Deb and Andy, it’s back to their “crazy” lives. Before the show started, not only do they run a household with four children, Deb also owns a homewares store on the NSW mid-north coast and Andy is a stand-up comedian.
“We’ve never had normal lives, really,” Andy said.
“No – but nothing’s ever been block crazy,” Deb said. “It was a really big Block this year. I’m pretty sure everybody knows it was the biggest Block ever – twice the size of last year’s. So it was a bit of a punish towards the end to be totally honest,”
Moving on from The Block and saying goodbye to their makeshift homes has hit all five of the couples hard, particularly for Mitch and Mark, who built their home from their heart.
The experienced house flippers have over 15 properties under their belt, their most recent an apartment in North Bondi which is currently for sale. Breezing through most of the competition, it’s clear the boys aren’t stopping yet.
“We would love to live in this house but the reality is, we don’t. We were given the space to create and we had a ball, don’t you think?” Mitch said.
“It’s not often someone gives you a multi-million dollar property and a budget and says knock yourself out, do whatever you can. It’s pretty special to do that,” said Mark.
For El’ise and Matt, whatever the future may hold for them, they’re looking forward to it. But it’s straight back to the renovation game when the steam has blown off.
“Oh look, I think there’s a few jobs at home waiting for Matty. I know he’s so bored and all,” El’ise laughed.
“Straight back to the tools. But yeah, it’s gonna be difficult. We’ve had amazing fans along the way and met some amazing people, so it’s going to be interesting once the auction’s done and dusted to see how it all pans out. We’re looking forward to the future and looking forward to the next phase and going from there,” said Matt.
Take a look at The Block properties, only on Domain
Your Domain airs at 10am on Saturdays on Nine. Catch up on all episodes on 9Now.
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