I still remember an incident that happened to me during World War II. I had just flown from the far south of Australia to mainland to join an Army transport train which would then transfer me to the Australian General Hospital at the top of the country, near the equator. It was to be a(n) journey.

On the fifth morning, as the train headed up the coastline, it was delayed for some hours in a small town. Wc had been traveling continuously, only stopping to change engines or have meals at railway dining rooms. spending four hot nights sleeping on the carriage floors, I was in need of refreshing.

It was already hot and wc were all starting to feel uncomfortable. from the south, I wasn't used to the heat and humidity of the Tropical North. On the railway station . I could see many wind-operated water pumps and couldn't help comment aloud that I would greatly appreciate a shower. A young fair-haired boy, who had come to the station to see the soldiers, overheard my . He invited me to his home to have a shower and refresh up. 1 told him that his mother might not and with that he left. To my . just minutes later he returned saying, “Mum asks you to come and

half a dozen mates.”

So I gathered up four mates and together we accepted the invitation. During our short stop, the boy's mother kindly

us cold drinks, towels, soap and much praise and encouragement for our war . Acceptance of that boy's invitation left a(n) awareness in me of the kindness of people who the needs of others unconditionally. There arc many.