Checkout operator extraordinaire
Manuella Andersen was waiting in line at the Huntly Countdown when she noticed the woman in front of her was tentatively putting items through the checkout.
‘‘She was picking her groceries out of her trolley one by one at the same time as having them scanned to see what the total was and if she could afford it,’’ Andersen said.
Unfortunately, there were a few items that she couldn’t afford, Andersen said.
‘‘She pushed them to the side, apologised to the staff member and said she won’t be taking them.
‘‘But, as she did this, you could see that the staff member felt bad about this and proceeded to finish off the transaction.’’
The checkout operator paid for the remainder of the woman’s groceries, Andersen said.
‘‘Her comment was it shouldn’t be like that for our elderly people.’’
Judy Mahuta was the staff member. To those who know her, it comes as no surprise.
Her generosity was shared on Facebook and the post received almost 800 reactions and over 150 comments from people who know her and know how kind she is.
Countdown Huntly store manager Kulo Sivapatham said he’s always receiving nice comments about Mahuta’s customer service.
Mahuta goes the extra mile, Sivapatham said.
‘‘She’s always friendly and smiling. ‘‘We have customers who wait to go through her checkout.’’
To hear she paid for a customer’s groceries is not a complete surprise, Sivapatham said.
‘‘It’s how she is.
‘‘She is quiet, but when it comes to the customers, she is a different person.’’
Mahuta has been a checkout operator for six years at the Huntly Countdown.
She’s always such a happy person, Sivapatham said.
‘‘The way she treats her customers and smiles at them – you always see a smile on her face, never a sad face.
‘‘She’s very easygoing, hard-working, and if I’ve got an extra shift she’s always willing to work it.’’
Mahuta didn’t know the customer she helped and wouldn’t disclose the grocery amount she paid for.
She wasn’t seeking public attention for her good deed, so didn’t want to comment further.