If you're going to find yourself down on your luck and stranded in a country town, you should be hoping it's Cloncurry.
Known as the "friendly heart of the north west", the town's residents recently showed why they enjoy this title, going above and beyond for 18-year-old Nathaniel Williams.
Nathaniel was passing through Cloncurry on a camping trip with his mother Kate, when she was badly injured.
While fossicking down an amethyst vein, his mother fell and broke her ankle in four places and was flown to Townsville needing immediate surgery.
Stranded in a community where he did not know anyone, Nathaniel posted on the Cloncurry Notice Board Facebook page on July 13, asking for help.
"I'm currently stuck in Cloncurry with two dogs, stuck on my L plates for my manual car not knowing what to do," he wrote.
"I've managed to book myself a driving test tomorrow to get my P plates however the hazard light button in our 4x4 Nissan Navara has somehow managed to fall behind the dash and I won't be able to do my test unless I get it fixed.
"Is there anyone who may be able to fix it for me? I've tried the mechanics but they are too busy to look at it."
Residents of Queensland's Friendliest Town in 2018, immediately came to the rescue offering their services to help Nathaniel out.
"Oh my goodness! If you need a hand young fella just give us a call I'll send you our number, we are happy to help and hubby can do anything with cars," one person wrote.
"We can look after dogs if you need, and you can stay," another wrote.
With the help from generous locals, Nathaniel managed to get his car fixed and successfully obtained his provisional driver's licence.
"I did manage to get the car fixed and everyone in Cloncurry was so lovely with their offers to help and for places to stay or to look after the dogs," he said.
"But not only that, the staff at the Cloncurry hospital have been so amazing with helping mum and trying to organise everything for her.
"We haven't come across anyone in this town who isn't really nice and helpful. The lovely owner of the Wagon Wheel Motel was also extremely nice and helpful with everything when I booked in there and offered me any help I may have needed."
Nathaniel said his family did not have a good history when it came to travelling in Cloncurry.
"The first time we ever came through Cloncurry in 2012 the car broke down, then in 2014 when we came through Cloncurry we rolled the car trying to find amethyst," he said.
Nathaniel will remain in Cloncurry until his mum flies back after surgery, before returning home to Gatton.
