Martin & Sarah's Vibe Magazine column

Sometimes in life, bad things happen to good people.  We were all reminded of this sad fact when 12 year old Azaleas Quenton was attacked while walking home from school.  The community has felt disgust and outrage that anyone could do such a vicious thing to an innocent boy.  There’s been a lot of anger felt towards the attackers.  While some people are calling for them to be named and shamed, given a taste of their own medicine and worse, the boy at the centre of the attack is not angry, just confused.  We had the privilege of meeting Azaleas, his Mum and Grandma when they joined us for a chat in the studio last week.  When talking about the attack, it’s clear it’s had a big impact on Azaleas and his whole family, and yet he says he doesn’t even care about finding out who did this to him, he just wonders why.  Does he want vigilante justice for these attackers?  No. More violence is the last thing he wants and is not the answer.  Instead of focusing on the negative of this horrible situation, let’s do what we can to help this family during a very difficult time.  When Azaleas joined us on air, we were able to present him with some pretty cool stuff that had been donated by local businesses.  A $50 voucher and chemistry set from Blackboard Jungle.  An All Blacks watch from the Clock Shop Napier.  Tickets to the Magpies game and passes for pizza and a movie.  And from Toyworld Napier, a remote control car and top of the range MGP scooter.  You should have seen his face!  How privileged we are in this job to be able to lift someone even just a little after such a horrible ordeal.  Afterwards we received this message from Azaleas’ Mum Cherie. “Thank you Sarah, Martin and to all the businesses who donated the cool things for Azaleas...you made my boy smile again and for that I am so grateful xo.”  

This coming Monday is Random Acts of Kindness Day.  Let’s make it a personal mission for all of us to do something on Monday to remind people that goodness is everywhere.  A kind word, gesture, a visit or even just a smile.  It might not mean much to you, but it could mean the world to them.