Editorial: Big slice of chainsaw kindness

Andrew Austin contemplates the kindness of strangers.

Recently I met a very kind man.

It always amazes me in this job, how many good people there are in our community. They are the people who help others simply because they are that sort of person.

Hemi Poutu is one of them. For those of you who don't know him, Hemi is a Forestry Trainer/Assessor.

The reason I came into contact with him was because of an editorial I wrote about the dilemma I faced after buying a chainsaw. I was a tiny bit afraid to use it but also could not bring myself to return it to the shop.

In a moment of weakness, I decided to write about it (I have endured endless mocking from friends ever since). Anyway, the morning the editorial appeared in the paper, an email appeared in my inbox from Hemi. He introduced himself and said his wife had read my plight to him over breakfast that morning. He went on to offer to come over and show me how to operate my new chainsaw safely.

I was quite overwhelmed by his kindness but jumped at the chance. It was either that or potentially to serious harm while teaching myself.

A couple of weeks later, true to his word, Hemi arrived and proceeded to spend the next two hours teaching my wife and I all we need to know about chainsaws and how to use them safely.

It is amazing how much that lesson has helped me. It gave me confidence, but also gave me an awareness of how powerful a chainsaw is.

For achieving that, I am very thankful to Hemi. He had nothing to gain, but he still generously gave up his time to help me.

My garden may not thank him, but it is looking better.