Editorial: Public generosity just reward for heroic mum

Lucy Knight.

$225,000 given to support family sign of respect won with such an act of valour

It is probably fair to say the family of Lucy Knight are overwhelmed by the public's generosity following her serious injury while intervening in an attempted robbery.

A fund started online to raise money to help the family during Lucy's time in hospital and recovery ballooned from an anticipated $5000 to $10,000 to hit $225,000.

More than 300 people contributed, many of them said to be from the Asian community to show their appreciation at Ms Knight's effort to help one of their own who had come under attack.

An organiser of the Give a Little fund suggested on television the money would help cover petrol costs and carparking at the hospital, among other things.

She and the family have had little time to consider what else it could pay for, but with serious head injuries the recovery is often long and trying, so it will be a comfort for the mother-of-six not to have to worry about needs as diverse as childcare and medical bills.

It might also help others suffering from head injuries or similar trauma.

Why did the public feel so moved to donate?

In part it will be because she is the young mother of so many dependents, two of whom witnessed the attack at the time.

It might also be because Lucy Knight had the courage to do what so many of us hope we would do: she tried to stop someone attacking and robbing another, older, person.

The money is, then, both recompense and a spontaneous form of public reward.