"Are you joking?"
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"No, I'm serious, it's gone."
Reddygari Rajitha was heartbroken when her electronic bike was stolen from her home in Dimboola.
The bike was an early wedding present since she and her partner Dinesh Putta have had to postpone their traditional Indian wedding for two years.
The couple had just moved to Dimboola to run the Endeavour petrol station in March 2020, which was made all the more difficult when the state locked down due to COVID-19.
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A year later, the couple planned to marry in a small Australian ceremony on February 19. Since Reddygari doesn't drive, she asked for an electronic bike to get around as a wedding present.
It was just a month later, on March 21, that bike was stolen from her yard.
"There was some work going on in the garage, so I put my bike in the front yard," Reddygari said.
"I asked my husband is it safe to put it in the front yard, inside the fence.
"He said 'no, it's Dimboola, nothing will happen'."
Dinesh checked at 10.30pm, and the next day when he went to open the store at 7am, the bike was gone.
"I asked is he was making fun, he said 'no, I'm serious, you need to come see'," Reddygari said.
Although she had a sentimental attachment to her previous bike, she said her new bike was given with love by the community.
Reddygari said John O'Halloran came to know about the stolen bike, and he decided to raise money for her.
Redddygari and Dinesh have only been in Dimboola a year and could not believe the response to their plight.
"We moved here for our business and it's only been one year," Reddygari said.
"The Dimboola Store owner, John, came to know about this incident. I've never met in him in person.
"He just started raising funds."
Due to COVID-19 and working seven days a week, Reddygari and Dinesh have had a tough time.
Reddygari said she felt so overwhelmed by the response.
"People said to me when you go regional, you might face racism," she said.
"I didn't expect this.
"People didn't need to donate, but they did. It was a very nice feeling."
Co-owner of The Dimboola Store, John O'Halloran, said he felt for Reddygari when he saw her post on Dimboola's out and about page on Facebook.
"It was extremely unfortunate to happen to somebody, particularly somebody who is new to town and working hard to make their way," he said.
"We publicised it on The Dimboola Store Facebook and Instagram page. Within in four days we raised $1550."
John said one incredibly generous donor came into the store and asked how much was needed to reach the goal and donated the last $300.
"In one fell swoop they wanted to kick in the last bit of money, so this couple could move onward and upward," he said.
"It's a town feel good appeal to maintain faith in the community for someone who is a new arrival in town."
John said Reddygari referring to her bike as "my scootie" really resonated with him.
"It was a favourite item and it was a wedding gift," John said.
"That type of thing shouldn't happen. So everybody pitched in."
John said this is what the Dimboola community is all about.
"The Dimboola community is very supportive," he said.
"If you're in trouble, it's all shoulders to the world."
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Reddygari said she could not wait to get back to scooting around town.
"The hardest part is that I don't drive," she said.
"I stopped going out without my bike.
"From now onwards everyone can see me on the roads."
Reddygari said she had never experienced anything like this before.
She said the Dimboola community acted as a family member would.
"I'm searching of right words to thank the community for this overwhelming gesture but honestly I fail to find any," Reddygari said.
"All I can say is 'thank you' for making me feel home on foreign land."
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