Watching the devastation of the Victorian bushfires unfolding on their television two Sundays ago, Rick and Patricia Wraight, like so many of us just wanted to help.

The directors of Tea Gardens Real Estate, who manage 150 holiday properties in Tea Gardens and Hawks Nest, set a plan in motion to offer free accommodation to those affected by the tragedy.

“We sent out 150 emails on Sunday night to all our holiday property owners and within five minutes we were getting responses back,” he said.

“All of the responses we’ve had have been extremely encouraging and some have been beautifully worded.”

At a combined cost of over half $1 million dollars the Wraight’s holiday relief plan will offer guests two weeks free accommodation plus gift vouchers to spend at local businesses.

“Tea Gardens Real Estate will pay for all the linen and cleaning expenses and we’ll be shortly approaching every business in town to offer their services. We’re attempting to make it totally free at no cost to the visitors.”

Mr Wraight said NSW and Victorian railways and various coach companies have jumped aboard and are prepared to offer free return transport for the plan.

With properties worth in excess of $1.5 million dollars Mr Wraight said agents in Port Stephens have approached him to join the project with some 4,000 of their holiday homes.

“We saw ourselves as being in a wonderful position – holding keys to holiday properties we had the resources, all we needed was the owner’s concurrence,” Mr Wraight said.

“We’re really looking to assist in their [bushfire survivors’] healing process and because of our wide range of accommodation we can cater for any size family.”

Preferring not to call them victims, Mr Wraight said the holiday relief program is not circumstance specific and will be offered to any family or persons seriously affected by the Victorian bushfires.

With assistance from the Salvation Army, the Victorian Department of Human Services and various government organisations eligible families will be selected based on a variety of contributing factors.

Successful applicants will be able to take their two week holiday in Hawks Nest or Tea Gardens anytime between now and the end of November.

If you would like to offer your business goods or services for the appeal applications of interest can be sent to Mr Wraight via email to rick@teagardensrealestate.com.au.