IS THIS THE GOLD COAST’S MOST HONEST MAN
HONESTLY, Paul Corias never thought he’d see his $1655 again.
But then again, he didn’t count on the honest-to-goodness character of his new best mate Lawrence Anderson.
Retiree Mr Corias had $1655 fall out of his pocket last week.
Planning to use the wad of cash for groceries, to pay his mechanic and car registration, he was shocked to find he had lost the money while trying to buy some challah, braided bread, for Sabbath last Friday at the Runaway Bay Shopping Centre.
“I was numb for the whole weekend and on Monday I went to the police station and it hadn’t been handed in,” Mr Corias said.
Resigned to losing his savings, the 59-year-old phoned centre management last Tuesday afternoon to check if the money had been handed in when he received the news fellow retiree Mr Anderson had found his coin bag stuffed with notes and a shopping list out the front of Aldi supermarket.
“It was a one in 10 million chance, and I was still numb when I had the money back in my hands,” Mr Corias said.
When the pair later met at the shopping centre, Mr Corias joked that Mr Anderson was nicer than his rabbi.
He said he tried to reward him with two $100 bills but he only accepted $100 so his wife could visit family in Victoria. After hearing Mr Anderson’s thick Scottish accent Mr Corias made a dash to the bottleshop to pick up a bottle of Glenfiddich scotch.
Mr Anderson, 71, said he felt “a good warm feeling” after handing the money in.
“I’m glad I picked it up and I’m glad he called the shopping centre,” he said.
“I’ve got no need for that kind of money and didn’t want anyone to miss out on paying their bills.”
The new friends have now discovered they both travelled through Egypt’s Suez Canal in the 1960s, each without a cent to their name, to call Australia home. They plan to catch up for lunch.
“I just want everyone to know kind-hearted people are still out there,” Mr Corias said.