True community spirit
The HoS reports:
Suresh Patel of P&P Dairy in Hoon Hay went to open the shop as aftershocks rippled through Christchurch.
Local woman Shirley Homer, who was caught without batteries for a torch during the power cut that followed the earthquake, said she went to the dairy expecting prices to be at a premium.
Instead she was impressed to find Patel was giving his stock away.
“He would only take $2 for these two big batteries, and he gave the people behind me two bottles of milk for free,” she said.
“He told them, ‘Take whatever you need’. He’s a gentleman, he will slip people a loaf of bread or give them some sweeties.”
Patel said it had been a busy day.
“We decided we can help the people,” he said.
Clap clap.
No TweetBacks yet. (Be the first to Tweet this post)
No tag for this post.
September 5th, 2010 at 8:44 am
Well done Suresh Patel. Next time I’m in Christchurch I’ll find a reason to drive there and spend some money.
September 5th, 2010 at 8:59 am
The sort of shop keeper that will do ever so well. Not rocket science is it. Congratulations on a sound commercial and indeed community move that will be remembered for a very long time.
As will the fuckwit looters. For entirely different reasons!
September 5th, 2010 at 9:02 am
A good person,we need more like him.Prosper and live long Suresh Patel.
September 5th, 2010 at 9:03 am
In adversity, especially when widespread like this, true human character, Kiwi character, comes to the fore as people are jolted from their comfortabubbles. Good one Suresh Patel – and yes, the name suggests the possibility of a more recent Kiwi but that makes no difference.
If society in NZ had gone to the dogs the coming together of community would not have occurred as it is in Canterbury.
Even mayors with shaky records can look good when it comes to the crunch.
September 5th, 2010 at 9:22 am
I also note that the Governor General has expressed ‘Shock and dismay’ while the Sallies have fed 4000 people.
I wonder which is the most comforting? Suresh Patel….well done.
September 5th, 2010 at 10:30 am
There is not much a Governor General can or will ever do. I think the job is pointless and at times like these doing the “shock and dismay” things is about all he can do and will ever do. Not his fault, I think the current Government Governor General is a fine man. I suppose he will walk through the rubble with his wife replaying the King and Queen in the second world war.
September 5th, 2010 at 10:51 am
“Early reports of looting in the dawn hours were later discounted by police, who said there had been nothing more than ”minor” disorder.”
http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/4096872/Canterbury-quake-over-but-fear-remains
September 5th, 2010 at 10:59 am
Well done Mr Patel
September 5th, 2010 at 12:08 pm
Shock and dismay is better than what many heads of state and govts in the world would be doing……looking out for corrupt opportunities! Our current system of govt is pretty good thank you very much. Let’s keep it that way.
Well done Suresh Patel, the Sallies and all the rest of those community minded people and emergency service workers,who are also victims of this disaster and who are out there doing their bit.
NZ can be proud of them.
September 5th, 2010 at 12:28 pm
Well done Suresh, every now and then things happen that restore your faith in human nature.
Also a well done to Bob Parker, the town seems to have chosen well, as for the other mayoral aspirant, Invisible Jim who also happens to be an MP in the affected region, hopefully the people remember the flakes performance when the ballot papers come out.
Next question would have to be how would the Clown of Campbell s Bay or Loose-head Len have performed given the same set of circumstances, scary isn’t it.
September 5th, 2010 at 1:12 pm
Outstanding. That really does remind us of what it is to be human.
September 5th, 2010 at 1:36 pm
We have had Phil Goff and i suppose anytime soon we will have saint Jim Anderton wandering through the rubble. But Bob Parker is doing very very well and Anderton must be cursing that damn earthquake. If only……….
September 5th, 2010 at 2:58 pm
I called up to volunteer yesterday, and they took my details. Today I found out (talking to a couple of the police on the cordon) that they have SO many volunteers that it is unlikely I will be called. They have been flooded with volunteers. That says it all, doesn’t it? Mr Patel, good on you, and good on the vast majority of the citizens of Christchurch.
September 5th, 2010 at 3:20 pm
We’d better make sure that Winston Peters doesn’t read of this outstanding community service by an Asian man, or there is likely to be a ‘quake of similar magnitude with its epicentre in St Mary’s Bay
Well done Suresh Patel
September 5th, 2010 at 3:32 pm
Anderton said that it would take an earthquake for Parker to beat him. What I want to know is what DID Anderton know and WHEN did he know it.
September 5th, 2010 at 3:51 pm
Inventory2:
Bah! Beat me to it
I thought I’d never say these words, but pity Winston’s not still an MP. We could organise a letter-writing campaign demanding he put him up for an honour 
tvb:
As our highest paid and most useless public servant, he could borrow the gardener’s wellies and the housemaid’s apron and fly down there and do some bloody work for a change, couldn’t he? And maybe drop off a dollop of his (tax free) income as he leaves.
September 5th, 2010 at 5:16 pm
I’ve been working and have heard many stories of good will and people helping others but Mr Patel’s, I think, beats them all.
Well done that man, that family.
Some humour as well, like the crowded dance-floor at one nightclub that got so shaken up the whole group ended up in a pile at one end.
September 5th, 2010 at 6:29 pm
things have changed overnight and forever in Christchurch
peterquixote
September 6th, 2010 at 8:51 am
Community spirit, yes, very nice.
Unfortunately in a major disaster when outside connections are cut off it all but guarantees the limited supplies of batteries (and ice, and clean water, and food, etc) will run out and those precious few batteries will end up in the wrong hands. Mrs Homer gets the convenience of seeing in the dark, while the diabetic two doors down can’t get their life saving insulin shots.
I’m sorry but I don’t see how “community spirit” is helpful when it puts lives at risk. Prices correctly rise in disaster, as that encourages supply and puts scarce resources in the hands of those who most need it.
September 6th, 2010 at 8:58 am
Unless “the hands of those who most need it” can’t afford the escalated prices.
In disasters like this many people do what is best for the moment and the accumulation of financial wealth is far less of a priority – except for a few who seem to like to take advantage of people when they are highly vulnerable.