http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/chronically-ill-woman-slams-neighbour-for-nasty...

A WOMAN suffering from chronic illness received a nasty anonymous note from an irate neighbour, telling her to clean up her “pig sty” property.

The note, slipped into the letterbox of Anne Simpson’s Melbourne home, said her property was a “disgraceful mess”, “dirty and disgusting” and urged the 59-year-old to “move your pig sty to Doveton”.

But Ms Simpson, who fights constant exhaustion and depleted energy levels due to recent illness, has responded to the note with a call for compassion, urging people to check in on their neighbours rather than rush to condemn.

“Put down your poison pen and pick up a tool or two and lend a hand,” she said.

She said she is embarrassed by the state of her garden, but she’s not ashamed and wanted her neighbours to understand she was doing her best.

Ms Simpson contacted the Leader after she found the unsigned note in her letter box on October 2.


The house, footpath and veranda are dirty and disgusting, I am told the house inside is filthy too,” the note said.

“Move your pig sty to Doveton. We don’t want you here.”

Ms Simpson said she was distressed at first by the note but later decided to speak out.

“Nasty notes and judgments have never solved anyone’s problems, but random acts of kindness can and do change lives and build communities,” she said.

I thought I’m not going to let this person do that to me. I don’t like the idea of ‘shoot first, ask questions later’.”

The disability services carer took two and a half years off from work to deal with her broken bones, surgery and other conditions.

She returned to work about a year ago but said her doctor was still investigating the underlying cause of her constant tiredness.

“I find I can just be exhausted after a stint of work,” she said.

“I used to feel like a very young 59-year-old. Now I feel like I’m nearly 70 or so.”

Although a family friend came to clean up the garden, she said she hasn’t been able to maintain it.


“I’ve been so tired and weeds have a habit of returning.”

In a response to the anonymous letter writer, which she intends to distribute among her neighbours, Ms Simpson wrote “after recovery one of my first priorities is my garden”.

“Until that time, if you are passing my house with a nasty note to deliver (which most people aren’t) put down your poison pen … and lend a hand.”

that is just awful and how could you do that - terrible neighbor- living next door to people and know nothing about them- my neighbors are snobby and I try to be neighborly- I warned her there was a snake getting around our yards because she had a child and a dog- but  really not even a thanks- you should try to get on with your neighbors because when you go out of town your neighbor is most likely the ony one hwo will hear or see your house being burgled or will call the fire station if-  needed

Redmond Neck wrote on Oct 9^th, 2017 at 12:20pm:



there is a pic of the lady holding the note....if someone normally looks after their yard   then it could be worth a knock on the door to see if they are ok... look at that women who had been dead for 8 years and no one looked for her...... are we zombies or what?

Wolseley wrote on Oct 9^th, 2017 at 10:34pm:

Her garden is bit over grown yes but hardly a very bad mess- most likely she just cannot keep on top of it anymore- and a high maitenence garden can be a too much for some- she looks like a lovely lady to me but she didnt deserve that response from her nasty nosey neighbor have been a bit more caring- my yard is very big- and a pain in the bum

Wolseley wrote on Oct 9^th, 2017 at 11:10pm:



it doesnt justify no one taking an interest enough to offer a helping hand either...
I think thats what shocks me more than anything....people do drop anonymous letters in boxes.....lets face it   who knows their dog is barking whilst they are out.. ...my son had a rooster... and got one... ..
lets hope there is a sequel and the lady gets help  and the person that wrote the note comes forward with their lawn mower....

happy ending!

Wolseley wrote on Oct 10^th, 2017 at 10:32pm:

I cant think of what that would be Wol- but as cods said there should be a happy ending - the lady looks like a lovely soul and she should have a man come in and trom her hedge every once in while  she looks like she wouldnt do very well with heavy yard work- I am fit and stubborn I do my yard but that is me-

some neighbors are actual bastards the ones on my right are-

the neighbor of which you speak Wol- would be an exception to the rule and might have had an issue of a medical nature in her life-who knows what the true story - but if the offended neighbor had used a different method rather than try to humiliate her then none of this would have happened- if they had had a cup of tea with her and tried to be neigborly- sounds like they lived in the area as neighbors for quiite a while but never actually spoken to her- and the fact that she called the media makes  me think this is not the first time these pp have been mean to her- this lady was angry and hurt to call the media in on this nasty little dig at her- it was cowardly and mean to leave a poison pen letter in her letterbox - i detect a feel off this lady being bullied here- and she is hurt and dissapointed at these actions- and she looks perfectly sane to me-  a gentle soul- she called the nasty neighbor out in her own way- good on her

cods wrote on Oct 10^th, 2017 at 9:39am:

yes indeed perfect resolution