People power finds Tim’s helpful hero
SHE DIDN’T want her name up in lights.
She didn’t want her face plastered over the news.
All she wanted, when she saw 89-year-old Tim Sheedy by himself amid the chaos that was Aldi Torrington early last week, was to lend a hand.
First she helped him navigate the shop and offered him the use of her trolley.
And when Aldi didn’t have some of the skincare products Mr Sheedy was chasing, the woman – who requested she remain anonymous – drove to
Coles, bought the items, and dropped them off at Mr Sheedy’s house that afternoon.
She threw in a couple of her own rolls of toilet paper for good measure.
“He was, to me, he was vulnerable. He seemed a bit confused … he was by himself and it was very busy,” the woman said.
“I just stopped to make the time for him. I actually forgot to ask for his name, and only found out through The Chronicle.”
On Saturday, Mr Sheedy and his daughter Rosemary Robinson put out the call through The Chronicle to find the woman, so that she could be properly thanked.
Her gesture – simple as it was – left Mr Sheedy emotional and teary-eyed.
“He couldn’t speak. He stood at the front door waving at me as I drove away,” she said.
“I think he was a bit dumbfounded that I actually followed through with what I said I would do.”
The woman, who has just recently completed an aged care course, said she had an attachment to the elderly.
“I want to look after them because I’m going to be old one day, and I hope I get the same respect and compassion in return,” she said.
She said it was important now more than ever for people to help others, when they could.
“I know some people can’t. But I was able to that day, so I did. And I think if everyone can do something kind you know, it’ll spread kindness and maybe stop the panic,” she said.
Mrs Robinson told the woman she “had no idea how much faith you’ve put back into all of us – in particular my dad”.
She said she had arranged for her dad to call and say thankyou.
“And we made a pact that when the timing’s better, we will all personally meet up and have a coffee,” she said.