This web page was created programmatically, to learn the article in its unique location you may go to the hyperlink bellow: https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2026/aug/17/kindness-of-strangers-australia-health-parkinsons-grief-officeworksand if you wish to take away this text from our web site please contact us [ad_1] Mum’s illness progressed slowly at first, after which in a extremely huge rush. After years of battling early onset Parkinson’s, in 2015 we had been instantly instructed she solely had six months left.I used to be residing in Brisbane, Australia, and Mum was in a care residence 600km away in Taree, so I started flying down each second weekend to go to. At the time, it was nonetheless frequent to print out your boarding move – or not less than, it was for me; I used to be a bit late to the tech recreation.So each weekend I visited, I’d go to the native Officeworks to print my move for the flight residence. Every time, I used to be served by the identical particular person, a pleasant girl who requested why I used to be flying down so typically. I instructed her what was happening. Whenever I noticed her, she’d enquire about how Mum was going and we’d have a pleasant chat.When Mum grew to become actually sick, I drove down and stayed together with her for a month till she handed, one horrible day two weeks after Christmas. The day of her funeral, on our strategy to the chapel, I went to Officeworks to print out the eulogy I had written. It had been a extremely dry summer time however that day the skies ripped open and it was pouring down.skip past newsletter promotionSign as much as Five Great ReadsEach week our editors choose 5 of essentially the most attention-grabbing, entertaining and considerate reads revealed by Guardian Australia and our worldwide colleagues. Sign as much as obtain it in your inbox each Saturday morningafter publication promotionAgain, I used to be served by the identical girl. When I instructed her what I wanted to print, she got here out from behind the counter and gave me an enormous hug – a protracted, correct chest-to-chest embrace that wrapped me up and held me shut. Then, as a result of I didn’t have an umbrella, she insisted I take one off the shelf without spending a dime.That was the final time I went to Officeworks Taree, so I by no means noticed that girl once more, however I'll at all times bear in mind her care and help. Flying up and down each fortnight on my own had been an isolating expertise. She made me really feel that somebody had witnessed the journey I used to be on, all through to its troublesome conclusion. She made me really feel much less alone.I seen in shedding my mum how many individuals get awkward round grief. They don’t know what to say, or the way to sit with it. This girl didn’t shrink back from it in any respect. She may have stayed behind her register and provided me condolences. Instead, she got here proper round that counter and squeezed me tight. Her heat hug made me really feel as if I may face the day.What is the nicest factor a stranger has ever accomplished for you?From making your day to changing your life, we want to hear about chance encounters that have stuck with you. ","prompt":"Share your experience","displayOnSensitive":false,"elementId":"a50f568f-c912-48db-8245-cdaa7fcad222","title":"What's the nicest thing a stranger has ever done for you?","isNonCollapsible":false,"formFields":[{"_type":"model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.CalloutFormFieldBase","name":"what_is_your_name","id":"180759333","hideLabel":false,"label":"What is your name?","hidden":false,"type":"text","required":true},{"_type":"model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.CalloutFormFieldBase","name":"where_do_you_live_city_state_and_country","id":"180759334","hideLabel":false,"label":"Where do you live (city, state and country)?","hidden":false,"type":"text","required":true},{"_type":"model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.CalloutFormFieldBase","name":"tell_us_a_bit_about_the_kind_act_youve_experienced_","id":"180759335","hideLabel":false,"label":"Tell us a bit about the kind act you've experienced? ","hidden":false,"type":"textarea","required":true},{"_type":"model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.CalloutFormFieldBase","name":"where_and_when_did_this_encounter_take_place","id":"180759349","hideLabel":false,"label":"Where and when did this encounter take place?","hidden":false,"type":"textarea","required":true},{"_type":"model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.CalloutFormFieldRadio","name":"can_we_publish_your_response","options":[{"label":"Yes, entirely","value":"Yes, entirely"},{"label":"Yes, but contact me first","value":"Yes, but contact me first"},{"label":"Yes, but please keep me anonymous","value":"Yes, but please keep me anonymous"},{"label":"No, this is information only","value":"No, this is information only"}],"id":"180759336","hideLabel":false,"label":"Can we publish your response?","hidden":false,"type":"radio","required":true},{"_type":"model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.CalloutFormFieldRadio","name":"are_you_comfortable_with_a_journalist_contacting_you_about_this_story_for_potential_publication","options":[{"label":"Yes","value":"Yes"},{"label":"No","value":"No"}],"id":"180759337","hideLabel":false,"label":"Are you comfortable with a journalist contacting you about this story for potential publication?","hidden":false,"type":"radio","required":false},{"_type":"model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.CalloutFormFieldBase","name":"what_is_your_phone_number","description":"Your contact details are helpful so we can contact you for more information. They will only be seen by the Guardian.","id":"180759338","hideLabel":false,"label":"What is your phone number?","hidden":false,"type":"text","required":false},{"_type":"model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.CalloutFormFieldBase","name":"what_is_your_email_address_","description":"Your contact details are helpful so we can contact you for more information. They will only be seen by the Guardian.","id":"180759339","hideLabel":false,"label":"What is your email address ","hidden":false,"type":"text","required":true},{"_type":"model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.CalloutFormFieldRadio","name":"would_you_be_interested_in_speaking_to_our_audio_andor_video_teams","options":[{"label":"Audio only","value":"Audio only"},{"label":"Video only","value":"Video only"},{"label":"Audio and video","value":"Audio and video"},{"label":"No, I'm not interested","value":"No, I'm not interested"}],"id":"191009656","hideLabel":false,"label":"Would you be interested in speaking to our audio and/or video teams?","hidden":false,"type":"radio","required":true}],"_type":"model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.CalloutBlockElementV2","tagName":"aus-callout-kindness-of-strangers","activeFrom":1740528000000,"id":"9c4533ce-53cd-4a8c-b922-c4a5827d92c4","calloutsUrl":"https://callouts.guardianapis.com/formstack-campaign/submit","formId":6112645},"pageId":"lifeandstyle/2026/aug/17/kindness-of-strangers-australia-health-parkinsons-grief-officeworks"}">Share your expertiseWhat's the nicest factor a stranger has ever accomplished for you?From making your day to altering your life, we need to hear about probability encounters which have caught with you. Your responses, which may be nameless, are safe as the shape is encrypted and solely the Guardian has entry to your contributions. We will solely use the information you present us for the aim of the function and we are going to delete any private knowledge after we now not require it for this goal. For other ways to get in contact securely please see our suggestions information.Show extra [ad_2] This web page was created programmatically, to learn the article in its unique location you may go to the hyperlink bellow: https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2026/aug/17/kindness-of-strangers-australia-health-parkinsons-grief-officeworksand if you wish to take away this text from our web site please contact us