“Yesterday I took my 4-year-old daughter to the Melbourne Aquarium for the first time.
She has cerebral palsy, so just getting there—lugging everything from the car park to the entrance—was a big effort. But we had the best day.
Leaving, though, things got stressful.
I hadn’t grabbed a ticket when we entered the car park, so I had to call security over the intercom. They were kind, helped me pay via bank transfer, and opened the gates for us.
We drove to the United service station for fuel, but when I went to pay—I realized my bank card was gone. My stomach dropped. I didn’t know what me and my daughter would do.
That’s when a complete stranger stepped in. She calmed both of us, helped me lock my card through the banking app, and reassured me while I figured out my next steps.
Then, when I went inside to explain to the attendant, he said the woman had already paid for my fuel. On top of that, the worker gave me $20 to get back into the car park to look for my card.
I started driving back when my phone rang. It was Wilson Car Park security. They told me they had found my card, had my number from the transfer, and were guiding me back through the multilevel car park using the cameras. They’d even hidden the card safely until I returned.
I retrieved it, thanked them, and went straight back to the service station to return the $20 and share the good news.
To the lovely stranger who paid for my fuel: I want you to know that I will pay forward the kindness you showed me and my daughter yesterday.
Thank you. From the bottom of my heart.”
[Elizabeth Cook]