Principal's Reflections

When my son was a toddler, his dad and I went on a 9-month trip travelling around Europe. We were a sight to see - Trevor with a huge backpack carrying all of our gear and me carting Sean on my back along with a big packet of nappies (my environmental knowledge would not allow me to do that now). One day when travelling in Germany we had a couple of unforgettable and emotional experiences. 

The first was when we boarded the train in Cologne, nice and early to ensure that we were settled for our trip to Lorch. The train was to follow the Rhine River, the area currently in flood in Germany. Trevor had our passports, tickets and money in his top left pocket and anyone who knows me well will know that was a sound idea that he was responsible for these things as I lose things very easily. Trevor decided we had enough time to pop out and grab some yummy pretzels from the stand at the front of the train station, so he headed off to purchase our much-anticipated delight. Uncharacteristically, however, he misread the time… because when he was at the pretzel stand the train started to move away from the station. There I was on a train, one baby, some nappies, no ticket, no money, no passports, and no mobile phone. Trevor, on the other hand, had all of the documents and technology and some lovely pretzels – minus wife and child.  I made the decision to get off the train at the next station 20 minutes away but had to do some fast talking to the train inspector. Fortunately, Trevor got the next train and, assuming that I would be booted off the train at the next stop, arrived at that station quite a bit later. I still recall our running towards each other on the platform… it felt as if it was in slow motion, just like the movies. What an enormous sense of relief!

Of course, we had to wait for the next train to come and that took a long time, but at least we had the pretzels… Eventually we were able to head off to our destination. Enroute we chatted about Lorch and our planned youth hostel stay, knowing that we would need to go to a bank to get some currency.  A German couple sitting across from us, who were doing a wonderful job at entertaining Sean, promptly told us that it was a German holiday and none of the banks would be open. Trevor and I had 10 Franks left so, again, we were in a pickle. Much to our amazement the German couple insisted on giving us 200 Franks to get a room in Lorch and to buy some dinner. What a wonderful gift to a couple of unknown scraggly looking Aussies with a kid. We promised to pay them back, but they refused and asked us to pay it forward when the right moment came… which we did.

The memory of such generosity has stayed with me always and I have sought to emulate their generosity when I can. Their act of kindness brought out the kindness in me, I think, and I hope I have been able to pass that understanding on as well to others. Kindness begets kindness.

I am always heartened when I watch the Olympics because at almost every Games stories of kindness and generosity of spirit among the competitors are uncovered. 

I recall at the Rio Olympics in 2016, in the second heat of the 5000 metres race, Nikki Hamblin (NZ) tripped and Abby D’Agostino (USA) fell over her, injuring her knee. The American helped Hamblin to her feet and encouraged her to go one, saying “This is the Olympic Games. We have to finish this.” Both completed the race, but way behind the others.

At the Beijing Games in 2008, in the final of the 200 metres, Crawford (USA) finished fourth behind Bolt (USA), Martina (Netherlands) and Spearmon (USA). But it was determined after the race that Martina and Spearmon had stepped on the lane lines and were therefore disqualified. Consequently, Crawford was awarded the silver medal. After the Games, Martina received a package with the silver medal in it and a note saying: "I know this won't replace the moment, but I want you to have this, because I believe it's rightfully yours!"

I wonder what act of kindness or generosity we will remember from the Olympics this year. Perhaps you might be inspired to do your own act of kindness or generosity while the Games are on. Kindness begets kindness. Generosity multiplies itself. Be part of that.

Ms Michelle Crofts 

Principal of Matthew Flinders Girls