Panelbeater becomes unlikely hero with old-fashioned way of helping

WHILE they don’t wear capes or are faster than a speeding bullet, Liverpool panelbeater Sam Cardillo and the men from Elizabeth Drive Smash Repairs are heroes.

Sam Cardillo hopes if he ever finds himself doing it tough, someone will help him out. Picture: Melvyn Knipe

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SAM CARDILLO feels good when he helps people who are in a bit of strife - so he never thinks twice to turn a good deed or extend a hand in kindness.

As the owner of Elizabeth Drive Smash Repairs, Mr Cardillo received a call from Bob* earlier in the year after a hit-and-run occurred.

Bob told the Liverpool business owner that he needed the car fixed but didn’t have all the money to pay him, but would pay it off.

Mr Cardillo said he’s got a soft spot for those “doing it tough”.

“It feels good to help people,” he said. “It really makes life worthwhile.

“Why do I help? We’ve all done it tough. I’d like to think if I got stuck, people would help me out.”

The Elizabeth Drive Smash Repairs team from left, Dean Noble, Sam Cardillo, Doug Djordjevic and Jay Raj Singh. Picture: Melvyn Knipe

In a letter to the Liverpool Leader, Bob said his life had been challenging. To make matters worse, his VT Commodore was reversed into by a truck.

The driver left without a trace.

Bob’s wife had cancer and she was going to hospital for chemotherapy treatment so they relied heavily on their car.

“No one really gave Bob the time of day because he didn’t have the money to pay for the repairs,” Mr Cardillo said.

The team at the Elizabeth Drive Smash Repairs fixed the VT and Bob was back in business.

He was able to take his wife to her daily chemotherapy treatment at Bankstown Hospital.

“He (Sam) came up with kindness and caring that we have not experienced in years,” Bob said.

A couple of weeks later Bob called Mr Cardillo with some bad news.

His wife had a seizure behind the wheel, resulting in damage to the back panel of the Commodore this time.

“I told him to bring it in again, even though he’d not paid off the original bill,” he said. “It’s just what you do.”

Two weeks later, Bob had to call Sam again; his wife had passed away.

Mr Cardillo has already visited the pensioner and told him to wait until he’s back on his feet before coming in to fix up the bill.

“You will never know how much stress that relieved,” Bob said.

Despite his recent struggles, Bob went out of his way to make sure Mr Cardillo was recognised as a good guy in society, so he contacted the Leader with his story.

* Bob did not wish to be identified.