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5 June – 11 June 2012
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Here is The News: Graeme Althaus is back in the delivery game around Hastings thanks to donors who paid for his new electronic scooter. Picture: Yanni
Graeme’s back at work By Keith Platt THE good, the bad and the downright depressing – Graeme Althaus has had the lot in the past month. Two weeks ago news came through of the death of the granddaughter he had never seen. Three-month-old Harmony died in Brisbane of meningococcal disease. Although her death brought great sadness to Mr Althaus, it has brought him closer to his daughter Jamie-Lee, who now phones once or twice a week. Plagued by an ageing electric scoot-
er, he had managed to stay committed to his delivery rounds, including that of the Western Port News. A painter for 27 years, Mr Althaus lost a leg and use of one arm after “a massive stroke” but was determined to make a living. The stroke came two days after he moved to Melbourne from Darwin for a guaranteed two-year painting contract. Picking up his life, Mr Althaus started delivering newspapers and pamphlets in Hastings, but recently his ail-
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ing scooter frequently broke down or had a puncture. A replacement was way beyond his means before hope came with a donation from Ben Tallon Real Estate and a price reduction from supplier Western Port Mobility. Although Mr Althaus had been given the use of his new scooter, he was wondering how to pay the remaining $2500 and make ends meet. After his plight ran in The News (‘Mobile Graeme is looking for work’, 22/5/12), two donors went to see Ray
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Percival of Western Port Mobility and paid off the remaining debt. “One gave $300 and the other $2200 and both wanted to remain anonymous,” Mr Percival said. “The one who gave the larger amount said he was from Mornington. He walked in and said ‘I’ve got it, he needs it, and now he’s got it’. “Everybody has dipped in. The scooter was a Pride 139XL and we dropped it by $500, Tallon gave $1000 and the two donors paid the rest. “Punctures should be a thing of the
past; this one comes with solid tyres, can do 12 kilometres an hour and should run all day without recharge.” “It was great news,” Mr Althaus said on Monday. “I cried when Ray Percival called. “It showed there are good people in this world.” After the death of Harmony, Mr Althaus took himself off the road, but this week is ready again to start deliveries. Seemingly unaware or affected by the dismal weather, his first job was delivering pamphlets for a coffee shop.
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MEET DAN & DANI OF THE BLOCK - PAGE 9
DAN AND DANI FROM THE BLOCK ARE COMING TO RAES MITRE 10 IN HASTINGS- SUNDAY, JUNE 10, 3-5PM