Looking for a family to pay good deed forward

Bunbury woman Julie Knipping has found a positive out of a negative, praising those who came together to help after her bicycle was stolen.

Ms Knipping said she had never met any of her Castle Street neighbours before the incident earlier this month, but her decision to conduct a letterbox drop in the street explaining the situation and asking everyone to look out for each other reaped unexpected rewards.

One neighbour organised a collection at his workplace, Grace Removals, which raised enough money to buy a replacement bike.

In a misunderstanding, a girls’ bike was bought for Ms Knipping instead of an adult’s bike.

The same community spirit also led to Ms Knipping’s bike being found and returned to her, coincidentally the day after the replacement was given.

She now hopes to “pay it forward” and is seeking a worthy recipient of the donated girls’ bike which she does not need.

“Maybe somebody has had a situation where they have lost everything, such as the bushfires, or a needy family,” Ms Knipping said about the ideal recipient.

“I am thankful for the community spirit and generosity of strangers because without them, none of this would have happened.”

Ms Knipping hosted a barbecue last week to thank her neighbours for their support and hopes it will lead to a situation where they all look out for each other in the future.

“Prior to this, I didn’t know anybody in my street so I encourage people to have a chat to your neighbours, say hello, bring a sense of community back and know and love your neighbours,” she said.

Anybody who has a worthy recipient of the bike, which is suitable for girls aged eight and above, can nominate them by contacting bunbury@grace.com.au.