Kiama teenager Harry Ledger saved up diligently for two years to buy his first car.
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But just four months later, Harry gave his car away to a complete stranger who had lost everything in the devastating Northern Rivers floods.
The 17-year-old and his family - dad Dale, mum Nicole and younger sister Mary, 15 - travelled to the region last month to help residents clean up after the first flood event ravaged the area.
The family has a connection to the area - Mr and Mrs Ledger met while attending university in Lismore, Mr Ledger once owned a business there, and he went to school in Ballina.
So the family collected some $3000 in donations to buy cleaning supplies and other essentials for residents of the town, and headed up north to pitch in.
"Harry approached and said 'Dad, I'd like to do more to help, would you mind if I gave away my car?'" Mr Ledger said.
Mr Ledger had been in touch with Natasha Shearer-Lambert, a Tweed resident he knew from his time in Lismore, who was heavily involved in the recovery effort and helping affected residents.
Mrs Shearer-Lambert had someone in mind who might need Harry's generous donation, a Kingscliff resident named Dee from Kingscliff, but fortunately her insurance paid out.
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Dee in turn suggested the car might be of great help to a man by the name of Dylan Simpson, who had lost everything to the floods in Chinderah and was couch-surfing while he tried to get his life back into shape.
While many young people count their first car among their prized possessions, Harry did not find the decision to give his away a difficult one.
The Illawarra Grammar School captain said Mr Simpson needed the vehicle much more than he did.
"When you go up and understand what's going on and the devastation that's occurring, it's not really that hard to concede it, to give it up," Harry said.
He flew back up north last weekend to hand over the keys to Mr Simpson, who had no idea the car - a champagne-coloured Nissan sedan - was coming his way.
Mrs Shearer-Lambert picked Harry up from the airport and they went to Mr Simpson's workplace in Kingscliff, where they asked him to come outside because they had some things in the car waiting for him.
Harry then surprised Mr Simpson with the vehicle.
"It was a really emotional experience," Harry said.
Mrs Shearer-Lambert said Mr Simpson "could not believe it".
"It was so heartwarming to know that people from outside the community - especially a 17-year-old - were willing to lift up others," she said.
Since news of Harry's kind gesture became known, two more people have come forward to donate vehicles to flood victims.
Harry and his father hope people do not forget that the people of the Northern Rivers are still suffering and face a long recovery.
"I'd just urge people, if they could find some time or donations to give up... there's still a lot of work to be done," Harry said.
Mrs Shearer-Lambert continues to coordinate donations and volunteer efforts, with people encouraged to make contact through this Facebook page.
She urges people to make contact with people working in these communities before bringing up goods because storage is limited and she does not want people's efforts to go to waste, nor have them feel their donations are not appreciated.
"Even though the waters are gone, the floodwaters have disappeared, the recovery is still happening and it's going to take months and months, if not years," Mrs Shearer-Lambert said.
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Natalie Croxon
Reporter at the Illawarra Mercury, mostly covering social affairs. Previously of the Bendigo Advertiser, Northern Daily Leader and Quirindi Advocate. Our Watch award winner.
Reporter at the Illawarra Mercury, mostly covering social affairs. Previously of the Bendigo Advertiser, Northern Daily Leader and Quirindi Advocate. Our Watch award winner.
