It was full of her prized possessions and she looked forward to returning to enjoy time in Victoria’s stunning north-east, one of her favourite things to do.
Unfortunately, before she had a chance to return, she was hospitalised.
Currently undergoing treatment in Sydney, one thing that was getting Ms Thornton-Callaghan through the day was dreaming of getting back to Tolmie.
But while in hospital, she got a letter from Benalla Rural City Council asking her to clear the rubbish from her land.
“I didn’t have any rubbish on my land,” she said.
“I was confused as all that was there was my (motor) home, sitting there locked up.”
Then she noticed a second piece of paper in the envelope.
“I saw a photo of my (motor) home, with the door hanging open.
“The mattresses, the fire extinguisher and all of my things were on the ground.
“I thought ‘oh no, it’s been broken into’.”
Stuck in hospital more than 700km away and with no-one near her Tolmie property to help, she panicked.
“I phoned (Benalla Rural City) council and spoke to a compliance officer,” she said.
“I asked if council had secured my door. It rains a lot up there and it could cause more damage.
“They said it wasn’t their job. I asked if they had called the police to report the break-in.
“They said that wasn’t their job either.”
Ms Thornton-Callaghan spoke with police and reported the crime.
With great concern over her belongings and the state of her motorhome, she then called VICSES to ask if they could put a tarpaulin over the vehicle to protect it until she was discharged from hospital and was able to get there herself.
“Unfortunately, SES said they couldn’t do that. So I called the Mayor,” she said.
Ms Thornton-Callaghan said no-one in council was in a position to help.
“I’m stuck in hospital and I felt like there was no empathy, nothing,” she said.
Eventually, Ms Thornton-Callaghan did hear back from council and was told her van was going to be removed from her block and placed in secure storage, but she had to pay for that.
“I asked them not to move it as it’s a crime scene,” she said.
“How can the police investigate it if the van is removed?
“I told them that as soon as I’m well enough, I’ll be down there.”
However, not long after that she received another letter from council saying the van had been removed from her block.
“It said I could claim the vehicle if I paid $913.09,” Ms Thornton-Callaghan said.
“I don’t know what’s happened to all my property, or when I could come and get the van.
“I had the nurse and doctor here write to council to tell them I was unwell and unable to come there in person.”
Ms Thornton-Callaghan said she had paid just under $450 of the money council requested.
“But it keeps increasing,” she said.
“All I want to know is where the contents of my vehicle are and how to get it back.
“I had antique horse brasses in there, my gumboots, a tripod for cooking over an open fire and extension cords.
“That’s all my valuable stuff and I want to know where it is.
“Recently, I read a thing talking about how, in the country, we live by a code of respect, where everyone pulls together.
“I used to think that was true.”
A Benalla Rural City Council spokesperson said they were unable to provide comment on this case specifically.
“Council is unable to comment on individual compliance matters for privacy and legal reasons,” the spokesperson said.
“In general terms, however, when community safety and amenity issues are brought to our attention, we will work co-operatively with property owners and their neighbours to resolve them.
“If issues cannot be resolved by education and negotiation, we will take the appropriate enforcement action to ensure community safety.”
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