Retired carpenter Pekka Rantanen and his wife Anna have had their faith in the community restored after a nasty experience, not long after moving to the area.
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Five weeks ago, the Rantanens moved into the Eurobodalla with spirits high and looking forward to numerous prospects.
Little did they know when moving their possessions from the car to their new home the first of a series of robberies and anti-social behaviour was about to take place.
Moving forward to the morning of Saturday, April 1, they awoke to their car broken into for a second time and soon realised they could no longer enjoy their favourite activity, recreational fishing.
The brazen thief had stolen two telescopic rod and reels, a surf rod combo, a fully stocked tackle box and even their fishing caps.
Anna, who is an aged care personal care attendant with decades of community volunteer work experience, acted quickly and posted a notice on local social media, notifying the public of what had taken place and expressed her disappointment that they must wait for many months before they could go fishing again.
Within minutes the notice was seen by hundreds and then thousands of locals expressing their outrage, empathy and some even offered to donate their fishing equipment to Anna, aged 58, and Pekka, aged 70.
Mayor Liz Innes had seen the notice on social media and contacted Tomakin Fishing Club president Adam Martin to see whether his club could help by way of an act of kindness and restore faith within the community showing that Batemans Bay is a place filled with law-abiding citizens that will come together in time of need.
Anthony Stokman, proprietor of Compleat Angler Batemans Bay, and the Tomakin Fishing Club wasted no time organising to replace their stolen fishing equipment.
As pictured Anna and Pekka were elated to receive their new beach rod and reel, two estuary rod and reel outfits, a fully-stocked tackle box and, yes, two fishing caps.
“The Rantanens were overjoyed and humbled by the number of locals that wanted to help and offer their fishing equipment and now they are ready to go catch a feed of flathead for the table,” Mr Martin said.
“Even mayor Innes expressed her gratitude and reaffirmed her belief that we still live in a community filled with people of integrity.
“Police have been informed of the situation, they are investigating and increasing surveillance of the area. My advice to those who feel the need to spend their time stealing from their neighbours, put your time to better use and do something more constructive like recreational fishing!”
