Neil Calladine has helped restore a Melton West woman’s faith in humanity.
Mr Calladine found, repaired and returned a motorised scooter to its distraught owner after it was stolen earlier this month.
Our earlier story: Melton West woman tells of ordeal as motorised scooter stolen
He spotted the blue Invasus Pegacare scooter at the tennis courts on James Cook Drive, about 500 metres from its owner Linda’s Melton West home, on Sunday, May3.
“Initially, we thought [the scooter] had been dumped by someone because there was something wrong with it,” Mr Calladine said.
“It was in bits and pieces … they pulled off everything you can think of.
“There was no key switch – that had gone – and they disconnected all the wiring. There was no way it was going anywhere.”
The former electronic technician put his skills to use and restored the badly damaged scooter.
He then realised it had been stolen after reading last week’s Star Weekly.
“My dad found the article first and showed me. ‘I think that’s the scooter you found that they’re talking about it’, he said.
“After I read the article, I went down to the police to let them know I found it and they suggested I liaise with the paper.”
A nervous but elated Linda met the Calladines last Friday to reconnect with her “legs”.
When Linda spoke to Star Weekly first, she pleaded with the thieves to “bring back” her precious scooter but she did not expect to see it again, nor have a gentleman “go out of his way” to repair it.
“I had a vision when it went that it was lying in a ditch or lying in a creek – Djerriwarrh creek – that’s how I pictured it … and that it would be vandalised,” Linda said on Friday.
“So seeing it today, I’m absolutely gobsmacked that it’s functional.
“There are a few bits and pieces that aren’t great, but it’s functional. Wow! Well done, it’s amazing.”
Linda said she felt she had been imprisoned after being left housebound when her scooter was stolen. She had left home just once and did not feel safe.
“It’s very isolating; it’s like you’ve lost your legs. And that’s why you’ve got the scooter in the first place, because your legs aren’t good.
“How can I thank Neil? I’ll figure something out.”
