'It's just being a true Aussie': The good Samaritan tradie making a difference one driveway at a time

UPDATE AUGUST 28, 2024:

We first met functional neurologic disorder (FND) sufferer John earlier this year when good Samaritan tradie Nathan Stafford offered to mow his lawn as a simple goodwill gesture.

But when John explained the impact of FND on his everyday life in more detail, offers for help poured in.

"I lost everything in the space of three years, my dad included, and I had to come back home. So yeah, life's just been upside down now," he told A Current Affair at the time.

John had been knocked back by the NDIS four times, but this week he was finally approved for funding to help with his condition.

"It was like a big weight off my shoulders dropped, you know ... [a] breath of oxygen you could say, just a relief," he told A Current Affair.

"It was my birthday on Monday and then the good news came on Tuesday, so it was a gift from heaven, from God, you know.

"Maybe my dad sent it, I hope."

ORIGINAL STORY FROM JULY 2, 2024:

He's the good Samaritan tradie going door-to-door helping out people who can't help themselves.

Nathan Stafford is the man with the mower, making a difference one driveway at a time. 

Not content with just his paying clients, he also came up with a way to give back to his local community. 

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Now he's gone viral on social media - for all the right reasons.

"I'd seen it done around the world, people knock on people's doors and what not and I decided I'm going to give it a try over here, and it's had a positive impact," he said.

Twice a week, he now commits to helping a stranger through the simple task of cleaning up their yard.

Sometimes he even goes further - recently helping a struggling mum fighting cancer pay her rent.

Then there's John, who fell ill four years ago with functional neurological disorder and has progressively got worse.

"It's basically a miscommunication between my nerve and my movement, as well as what my brain is going on," John said.

"I get lots of messages regarding people in the community that are doing it tough and I received a message from an anonymous friend saying there's a guy here who needs some help," Stafford said.

"The thing is, I only live around the corner. I actually drive up and down here all the time, it's like for me, this one was meant to be."

Despite trying for several years, John is yet to be approved for NDIS support.

As his body fails him, his ability to take care of his house diminished. 

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"I lost everything in the space of three years, my dad included, and I had to come back home," he said.

"So yeah life's just been upside down now."

But after Stafford knocked on his door offering to tidy his yard, it sparked a wave of help, with other people volunteering their time to clean for John and help him navigate his way through the NDIS system. 

"It's probably received about 10 million views already on my platforms, I have thousands of comments in my inboxes from people all around the world just wanting to help this guy," Stafford said.

"I'm usually extremely independent in doing everything, you know I was just sort of the bloke that would get things done," John said.

"Since I copped my condition I've only seen four walls really, and that's been a hard pill to swallow."

While it may be a small deed, John said Stafford's generosity has given him "a little bit of hope".

"It's kinda kicked start the engine a little more now," John said.

"For me personally, I think if you can spare a few minutes of your day to help someone, I think it's a great thing," Stafford said.

"It's just being a true Aussie, good bloke, that's how I look at it."