Social media ‘detectives’ have reunited lost photos discovered in an op shop backpack with their rightful owner.
Noosa Community Notice Board member Holly Graham first brought the case of the forgotten polaroids to the public’s attention in a social media post on November 2.
She admitted she got more than she bargained for on a trip to the local op shop.
But with only six of the 21 photos able to be posted (without identifying children) and little else to go by, the hunt was on to find the missing pieces to the puzzle from the small images of a woman and her pets.
Holly wrote: “I recently purchased a kids’ backpack from an Op Shop in Tewantin and in one of the pockets was a bunch of family photos, some money and this handmade memory’s paper. There’s quite a few family photos included … about another 15 photos (all of children so I’ve not posted here.) Was wondering if the old owner was wanting these photos back as they look fairly special! I’ve scribbled out the kids faces for safeguarding but if you know the lady and/or pets in the photos, please can you let them know/tag them so I can send the pics back! Thankyou!”
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The collection remained undiscovered for two weeks, Holly told Sunshine Coast News, until she needed the backpack one weekend.
“It was in a tiny little pocket. These kids’ backpacks have 100 compartments and I was just rummaging through … and I thought: ‘What’s that?’,” she recalled on finding the photos.
“I took them out and the more I looked at them, I thought, ‘No I have to find out who they belong to, I have to send them back’, especially as there was a couple of little kiddies’ artworks in there. I can’t throw that away.”
The Good Samaritan’s post received 400 reactions, 26 comments and 18 shares over the next few days.
But it didn’t take long to solve the mystery. Holly said the owner was found “within five minutes of me posting”.
Fellow contributor Katherine Jackson was able to confirm the woman in the photo was her Bonza work colleague Mel.
“Mel works in crewing so she cares and helps all of us crew,” said Katherine, a Bonza trainer and cabin supervisor.
“This is well deserved for her as she does so much for so many people. Nice to see goodness coming back to her.”
Holly later reported the happy ending on her original Facebook post: “I’ve packaged up the things and have sent them off to the family! Kindness is free. The world needs more of it.”
Her simple but effective gesture certainly struck a chord with the Noosa Community Notice Board audience.
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Lorraine Ellis wrote: “Holly Graham, Thank you sincerely. We all love wonderful outcomes. The family will be so happy. Well done, Lass! Blessings to you all.”
Melissa Watson praised the effort: “What a great honest human you are.”
And Becky Berg O’Farrell felt the feelgood vibes: “So beautiful. Have goosebumps.”
Others also commented on the collaborative Facebook community and its reach.
As Joanne Burton stated: “Facebook at its finest.”
Barb Fenner added: “We all get cranky at the net and social media a lot but then this happens.”
And Caroline Mcdonald summed it up: “That is amazing! Social media done right. So great to see a good outcome. Kudos to you for your kind spirit.”
Holly said she was “glad I could help” but the kind comments produced their own magic.
“They brightened my day,” Holly admitted.
“I was having a pretty sh*tty time. I work in a really high-stress job. I work for Child Safety, so you can only imagine what kind of stuff I see and hear and deal with.
“It was really uplifting to see (the comments).”
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