By Brady Halls
There's something about the Aussie spirit that makes us pretty unique. Helping a mate who's down is part of our psyche whether it be helping a digger in the war or a stranger in need down the street.
And so it was this week in the New South Wales town of Mudgee.
David Cuthbertson thought he was the luckiest fella around. He'd found the best partner in the world in Petah Kimm and together they had a life of joy and happiness. When baby Alissa came life was just perfect. But suddenly everything went terribly wrong. Just eleven hours after giving birth to Alissa, Petah died in hospital. She never even got to hold her daughter. Her death is now the subject of legal proceedings.
David lost his soul mate and was left to bring up Alissa, who never got to see her mother. Despite the joy of having a beautiful daughter the sorrow of losing Petah was too much, and David slipped into serious depression.
When his rural home was flooded some week back it all proved too much for him and little Alissa lost everything in the flood.
But the good folk of Mudgee got wind of David's troubles and the townfolk set out to turn things around for the single dad.
Stores and tradesmen got together to help rebuild Alissa's room and give her toys and clothes to put a smile back on her face. For the first time in a long time, David too was smiling as strangers and friends set out to lift their lives. it was a wonderful sight. And it truly makes you proud to be an Australian.
