Strangers Band Together to Help Local Family

Anna Hartley 3rd July 2013

MOTHER of six Melanie Rochester says her faith in humanity has been restored this week when a group of strangers helped her move from her Bundamba home after a shock asbestos discovery.

Jody Sedgwick, close friend of Ms Rochester’s, put out a plea for help on Ipswich community Facebook page ‘City Watch’, and was astonished by the offers of assistance.

“The response has been amazing, the volunteers went out there today and helped her and they’re doing it tomorrow as well,” Ms Sedgwick said.

“Mel is a beautiful person and she has six children, one with special needs I’m just glad I could help her.”

Ms Rochester says the amount of community support she has received has been overwhelming.

“I am a bit shocked and amazed all at the same time,” she said.

“It’s not often that people will help strangers these days.”

According to Ms Rochester the help of volunteers has been a huge relief for her and her family.

“I have one autistic son, James, and change is not that good for him, so this has made the moving much less dramatic for him.”

Forklift operator Joshua Stacpoole heard about Ms Rochester’s situation when his wife showed him the Facebook post.

“We’ve got six kids ourselves so we know how hard it can be to move.”

“I did four and a half hours yesterday and then had to work a nightshift and we’ll do the same again today,” he said.

“It would be nice to see more things like this happening in Ipswich to show that there are people out there who are willing to help people who deserve it.”

Ms Rochester also hopes to see more displays of community spirit like the one she has experienced.

“It would be great if communities could band together again and look after each other, it would make the world a better place,” she said.