Kindness of Strangers: The Key to Good Service

The Key to Good Service

I was locked out - but my luck was in

My husband was in hospital in a town 50km away from our home, having surgery for a total knee replacement. I travelled up to see him most days after he’d had the operation, and one time while he was resting, I thought I’d go to the shops for an hour or so.

I drove to a huge hardware warehouse to buy a few necessities, and after parking decided to play it safe and put a couple of things in the boot out of sight. I closed the boot and immediately realised I had just locked my keys inside as well.

The spare set was hanging in our home, 50km away.

I asked at the front counter if there was anyone who could possibly help me, and a very pleasant department manager came to my rescue. After I explained my dilemma, we tried to open the car but to no avail.

The Key to Good Service

I was locked out - but my luck was in

My husband was in hospital in a town 50km away from our home, having surgery for a total knee replacement. I travelled up to see him most days after he’d had the operation, and one time while he was resting, I thought I’d go to the shops for an hour or so.

I drove to a huge hardware warehouse to buy a few necessities, and after parking decided to play it safe and put a couple of things in the boot out of sight. I closed the boot and immediately realised I had just locked my keys inside as well.

The spare set was hanging in our home, 50km away.

I asked at the front counter if there was anyone who could possibly help me, and a very pleasant department manager came to my rescue. After I explained my dilemma, we tried to open the car but to no avail.

He then suggested that I do the paperwork to hire one of their utes to drive home. If I paid the fees with my credit card, then upon my return, he would reverse-charge my card the entire fee.

I drove the 100km round trip and when I got back he did exactly what he said he would do, reversing the entry to my card. He would not even allow me to pay for the fuel.

I could not believe it. I wanted to pay him for his kindness, but he would have none of it. It certainly made me realise that even though most of this world seems to revolve around the almighty dollar, there are still good people out there.

Patricia Roberts, Busselton, WA

Sewing Goodwill

One of my earliest sewing attempts was making a reversible winter coat for my son. On completion it appeared sturdy enough, but after only a couple of trips to the park, I found that two of the eight matching buttons had fallen off and disappeared.

Imagine my disappointment, then, when the sales assistant at my local sewing store explained that these particular buttons were no longer available. I would need to cut off the remaining six buttons and replace all of them with eight new ones. Overhearing this conversation, another shopper interrupted to tell me that she had some of the buttons I needed at home, and would be happy to send them to me.

I have to admit that I was rather uncomfortable about giving my name and address to a complete stranger, and I didn’t honestly believe that she would send me the buttons – especially as she refused any payment. However, only two days later I discovered an envelope in my letter box with not just the requisite two buttons but a card of eight – just in case we lost any more.

Michelle Camissar, Bellevue Hill, NSW

A Picture of Harmony

There were clear blue skies as we caught the ferry to Manly from Sydney’s Circular Quay. Newly arrived immigrants from South Africa, we were on our way to meet friends for lunch.

At Manly wharf, we got off the ferry and briefly sat down on a bench to map our way to the restaurant.

Later, as we meandered down the Corso walkway to the sea, my husband asked me to pass him our camera.

I reached into my handbag and it wasn’t there. My stomach turned as I realised that he had handed it to me while we were studying the map. In a flash, I remembered putting it down beside me on the bench.

When we got back to the bench, out of breath and panicking, we found it empty. I was still searching when a friendly voice beckoned us from a nearby crowd of picnickers. “Hi there,” said a man, holding up our camera and smiling. “Looking for this? I knew you’d be back.”

We spoke for a while and found out that he too was a migrant, and had come from Lebanon.

We parted feeling welcomed into a unique culture of understated neighbourliness and reliability. Although our camera was loaded with special moments, it could never capture this gesture. It promised a country that, although diverse in population, was overflowing with goodwill. Ten years have passed and I still remember the kind face of a man who did the right thing in good old true-blue fashion.

Christine Fourie, Coorparoo, Qld

"Never look down on anyone unless you're helping him up."

Jesse Jackson


He then suggested that I do the paperwork to hire one of their utes to drive home. If I paid the fees with my credit card, then upon my return, he would reverse-charge my card the entire fee.

I drove the 100km round trip and when I got back he did exactly what he said he would do, reversing the entry to my card. He would not even allow me to pay for the fuel.

I could not believe it. I wanted to pay him for his kindness, but he would have none of it. It certainly made me realise that even though most of this world seems to revolve around the almighty dollar, there are still good people out there.

Patricia Roberts, Busselton, WA

Sewing Goodwill

One of my earliest sewing attempts was making a reversible winter coat for my son. On completion it appeared sturdy enough, but after only a couple of trips to the park, I found that two of the eight matching buttons had fallen off and disappeared.

Imagine my disappointment, then, when the sales assistant at my local sewing store explained that these particular buttons were no longer available. I would need to cut off the remaining six buttons and replace all of them with eight new ones. Overhearing this conversation, another shopper interrupted to tell me that she had some of the buttons I needed at home, and would be happy to send them to me.

I have to admit that I was rather uncomfortable about giving my name and address to a complete stranger, and I didn’t honestly believe that she would send me the buttons – especially as she refused any payment. However, only two days later I discovered an envelope in my letter box with not just the requisite two buttons but a card of eight – just in case we lost any more.

Michelle Camissar, Bellevue Hill, NSW

A Picture of Harmony

There were clear blue skies as we caught the ferry to Manly from Sydney’s Circular Quay. Newly arrived immigrants from South Africa, we were on our way to meet friends for lunch.

At Manly wharf, we got off the ferry and briefly sat down on a bench to map our way to the restaurant.

Later, as we meandered down the Corso walkway to the sea, my husband asked me to pass him our camera.

I reached into my handbag and it wasn’t there. My stomach turned as I realised that he had handed it to me while we were studying the map. In a flash, I remembered putting it down beside me on the bench.

When we got back to the bench, out of breath and panicking, we found it empty. I was still searching when a friendly voice beckoned us from a nearby crowd of picnickers. “Hi there,” said a man, holding up our camera and smiling. “Looking for this? I knew you’d be back.”

We spoke for a while and found out that he too was a migrant, and had come from Lebanon.

We parted feeling welcomed into a unique culture of understated neighbourliness and reliability. Although our camera was loaded with special moments, it could never capture this gesture. It promised a country that, although diverse in population, was overflowing with goodwill. Ten years have passed and I still remember the kind face of a man who did the right thing in good old true-blue fashion.

Christine Fourie, Coorparoo, Qld

"Never look down on anyone unless you're helping him up."

Jesse Jackson