Sorry saga of Mrs Moyse’s Mini ends well

Press, 26 July 1984, Page 7

Sorry saga of Mrs Moyse’s Mini ends well

The sad story of Mrs Margery Moyse’s car woes seems to have had a happy ending. Mrs Moyse, who was disabled after a severe spinal injury in 1980, can walk only with the aid of walking sticks. She relies heavily on her Morris Mini for her work at Burwood Hospital, where she co-ordinates voluntary workers at the hospital’s spinal unit. Therefore, it came as a severe blow to her when the Mini was stolen for the second time on June 28, only to turn up a day later wrecked and without wheels at Queen Elizabeth II Park. “I was desolate. The car was not insured because it had been stolen once before, and it had been bashed several other times as well. I couldn’t afford to buy another,” she said. Newspaper publicity about Mrs Moyse’s plight led to Radio 3ZB’s talkback host George Balani’s being inundated with offers of assistance from the public. Mr Balani talked to

people in the motor trade to see if something could be done for Mrs Moyse, and the result was $lOOO worth of repairs to her car free of charge. Blackwell Motors’ paint and panel shop repaired the body panels and repainted the car, the paint being supplied by Colour Service, Ltd. The front seats were reupholstered by Doug Goslin Auto Trimmers, and a set of wheels given earlier will be retreaded by Don Grindleys Tyre Service, Ltd. To cap it off (and it is hoped to prevent further mishap), Tower Automotive Instrument Repairs has given and fitted a burglar alarm in the car. Mrs Moyse was grateful to all concerned when her refurbished car was handed over to her at Blackwell Motors yesterday afternoon. “Out of all bad there must come some good,” she said. “I am not a person to sit at home — I have to get out and get involved. I am thrilled to bits this has happened.”