Act leaves grateful resident in shock

AN UNEXPECTED act of kindness has befallen a Bellarine resident thanks to the spontaneous goodwill of an essential services worker.

Ocean Grove resident Margaret Schenk went about her grocery shop the same as every other time she visited the Woolworths on Shell Rd.

Ms Schenk, 88-years-young, was doing a minor shop for some very specific items at her local Woolies such as brie cheese, pork rashers, eye fillet steak, A2 milk, double cream, and several other items.

As Ms Schenk was perusing the aisles, she crossed paths with a man she assumed was a firefighter off duty. The two individuals exchanged hellos and went about their own business.

Ms Schenk then concluded her shop and proceeded to the check-out where she ran into the man she met previously. The firefighter was in front of her in the queue.

“He asked if I wanted to go first and I told him ‘No, I’m a bit slow you go ahead’,” Ms Schenk said.

“So, he went first with just a few things in a single bag, whereas I had a sizeable amount of shopping.

“When he was done and paid, he just stood there as the check-out lady put my bags into the trolley. The nice man then leant over and paid for my shopping!

“I was shocked, it was $140!”

Ms Schenk laughingly said she felt terrible and told the man he didn’t have to do that.

The man then told Ms Schenk, “Think of it as my good deed for the week,” then left never to be seen again.

Since the selfless deed was done on November 5, the mother-of-three has had a chance to reflect on the community she lives in on the Bellarine.

“We do, we really do live in such a wonderful area,” Ms Schenk said.

“I moved to Ocean Grove in 2013 and I find it full of lovely people.

“Look, I’m a bit needy I suppose, but I can manage. I’m always surprised by how many lovely friends I have made here, and people just love saying hello.”

Ms Schenk’s only hope in this article is that the lovely man that bought her shopping how grateful she is for the act.