Shane’s run of bad luck

By Bridget Brady
SHANE Simons has had a rough trot.
The 21-year-old father has had a string of bad luck during the past few years, and the latest bout of misfortune has seen him without a home and thousands of dollars out of pocket.
Mr Simons’ rental property in Cannons Creek was badly damaged by fire on 5 March when he was at home with his eight-month old daughter, Natalie, and her mother.
“I turned on the stove and it took off in front of my face. It went up the wall and I could not stop it at all,” he said.
No-one was injured in the fire, but Mr Simons said it spread into the roof within about five minutes. “Life can’t be replaced but possessions can be,” he said.
A fridge, high chair, microwave oven and photos were all destroyed.
Mr Simons is looking for a new home and said he was trying to stay positive, but found it difficult at times.
“I’m extremely stressed at the moment. I don’t know where to start. I’m running on autopilot.”
Mr Simons and his former partner, Rachel, were distressed in 2008 when Rachel had a miscarriage in the waiting room toilet at Casey Hospital. They were both 19 at the time.
Mr Simons said he had just got ahead and paid a few bills before the fire occurred.
“Anytime I go and do something good, something goes wrong.”
Last year Mr Simons was in a road accident after Rachel’s dad bought them a new car.
Mr Simons is living with his mother in Cranbourne while looking for a new house. “I’m just taking it day by day. You can’t sit around and dwell on it. You’ve got to move on.”