<strong>Selwyn</strong> <strong>Times</strong> Wednesday <strong>January</strong> <strong>10</strong> <strong>2024</strong> 8 NEWS Latest Canterbury news at starnews.co.nz Lincoln’s Good Samaritan strikes again • By Niva Chittock DEAN GRAHAM, the now not so secret Good Samaritan, has been at it again. In the days leading up to Christmas, Graham paid for people’s petrol, groceries and even fish n’ chips. It all happened in Graham’s hometown of Lincoln, and it didn’t take long for his identity to be revealed once people started posting on Facebook to express their gratitude to the mystery man. “To the person at pump one at Challenge Lincoln, who paid for pump five around 8.40, thank you so much!” one said. “My card declined, and when I went to call my parents, someone paid for my fuel. You made me cry – thank you for your generosity. There are still some good people out in the world.” The son of late Mainfreight rich-lister Neil Graham, he said over time his identity had become less of a secret, but he wouldn’t be changing his ways any time soon. Said Graham: “There’s so much doom and gloom around; I guess I like doing it because it shows that people care. And if I can make someone’s day, especially when they’re having a s****y day, why not?.” Another person said the good Samaritian had paid for the remainder of their fish ‘n’ chips at Lincoln Fish Supply. “My son didn’t take enough cash. He was going to come home and get more, but a kind man offered to fix the rest of the bill! How kind! He wanted to come back and repay you but since you had gone, thank you again!” Another thanked them for covering some groceries at the supermarket. “I was out at the car getting my forgotten wallet. You don’t know me – I work in healthcare and have had three huge days at work, [and am] still recovering from a bout of Covid one month DO GOOD: In 2021, Dean Graham paid $<strong>10</strong>,000 for a cardboard Lamborghini, with funds going to Starship Hospital in Auckland, before auctioning it again for another charity. GENEROUS: Dean Graham has paid for people’s groceries and petrol over the festive season. down the track and feeling a bit of brain fog,” they said. “While financially I am not in need, I was very much in need of a good deed and some kindness. You mentioned to the supermarket lady to pay it forward, so I have done my own version of paying it forward somewhere else in Lincoln . . . It made my day.” A New World shopper got a surprise when their card wasn’t working. “Thank you so much to the absolute legend who paid for my son’s treats at New World yesterday when my card wasn’t working for them. Let me know if I can pay you back. We are so grateful, as we were having quite a busy and stressful day.” Graham said he just enjoyed the effect it had on people. It all began in Auckland when he was at a concert with his partner, he said. “I could see this family there and could hear them (saying), ‘Oh no, we can’t just order this and order that’ – they were struggling a bit,” Graham said. “I thought to myself, ‘You know what, I’m just going to pay their bill and walk out . . . It will just be a nice thing to do’.” “I was very much in need of a good deed and some kindness . . . It made my day.” – One recipient of Graham’s actions That was four years ago, and he has done it dozens of times since. It was even better when the generosity was passed on, Graham said. “I did in Hornby, it was in a little shop that made beautiful pork sandwiches. I could see there were older people behind me, and I paid for theirs as well and I walked out,” he said. “I went in again maybe three weeks later and the lady said to me, ‘Oh, you’re that guy that paid for that couple’s lunch!’ “She went, ‘You’re not going to believe this. They did it the next week for someone else’. So if you can spark that sort of thought, and spread that feeling, it’s a good thing.” An urban legend falsely claimed it all began when Graham won Lotto. “No, I haven’t won Lotto at all, but I’m not short of a quid . . . I just love doing it. I like seeing people buzzing,” he said. • Graham is an avid collector of motorcycles and vehicles, and his man cave, where they have pride of place, featured in <strong>Selwyn</strong> PHOTO: JOHN SPURDLE <strong>Times</strong> in July. Among his collection are two of the Harley-Davidsons used in the 1969 cult classic Easy Rider which Graham bought about four years ago near Auckland for $740,000. Easy Rider is Graham’s favourite movie. He also bought a cardboard Lamborghini for more than $<strong>10</strong>,000 being auctioned for Starship Hospital in Auckland in 2021, and then put it up for auction again for another charity. – RNZ COLLECTOR: Dean Graham on one of the Easy Rider Harley-Davidsons. LIVES AT STAKE Take a break
Wednesday <strong>January</strong> <strong>10</strong> <strong>2024</strong> <strong>Selwyn</strong> <strong>Times</strong> 9
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