STRANGER WITH A HEART OF GOLD

PENSIONER SEARCHES FOR...

A TOOWOOMBA pensioner is searching for the kind stranger who handed in $500 he left in an ATM. Harold Anthony accidentally left his weekly spending money in a machine at Clifford Gardens. But he was relived to discover a good Samaritan had done the right thing and handed his money into the bank. Now, Mr Anthony wants to find and thank the person who restored his faith in humanity.

A TOOWOOMBA pensioner didn’t think there were too many good Samaritans left in the world.

But Harold Anthony said he had to rethink his views on the integrity of people when $500 cash was returned to him after he left it in an ATM machine.

Last Wednesday when Mr Anthony was drawing out his weekly spending money from an ATM at Clifford Gardens he had other things on his mind.

“I was side-tracked at the machine and I left the money behind when I walked away,” he said.

“I realised as I reached my car and rushed back to the bank fully prepared for it to have disappeared and suffer the loss.”

Being 75 and retired, the money was all he had to live off for the week.

When Mr Anthony returned to the bank, he wasn’t hopeful he had any chance of getting it back so he was surprised to find out someone handed it in.

“Some kind soul handed my $500 in and it was thankfully refunded to me. I felt such relief,” he said.

“I thought it was most unusual these days for someone to be so trustworthy and honest.

“Back in my day honesty was quite common but I think the younger generations don’t have the same integrity.

“It was a breath of fresh air and I’ll have to rethink my views on human nature now.”

Mr Anthony hoped to thank the person who returned his money but due to privacy policies the bank could not reveal the person’s identity.

“I would like to thank the person responsible and express my appreciation for their actions,” he said.

“While it wasn’t a massive amount of money, it was to me. It was my weekly wage and it would have been very difficult for me to manage without it.

“I did try to find out who they were because I would have liked to thank them in person.

“It would be nice to know who they are and put a face to the person who saved me so much trouble.

“I just hope this message reaches them.

“It is good to know that there is decency in a world that is full of so much doom and gloom.”

If you know this kind stranger phone 4690 9476 or email meghan.harris@thechronicle.com.au

It was my weekly wage and it would have been very difficult for me to manage without it. — Harold Anthony