Walking through the CBD today, you’d be forgiven for thinking Melbourne had turned into some sort of organised chaos festival. Police response vehicles lined up along Bourke Street, trams getting diverted left and right, and thousands of people gathering at the State Library. It’s become a fairly regular Sunday scene over the past couple of years, but it still gets me thinking about how we balance the right to protest with everyone else’s right to go about their day.

Something happened in the CBD today that made me pause and reflect on the state of our city, and more importantly, on the quiet heroes who walk among us. While grabbing lunch near Collins Street, I witnessed a scene that perfectly encapsulated both the challenges we face and the spirit that keeps our community strong.

The story that caught my attention involved a stranger who stepped in to protect a mother and her children from harassment. Without hesitation, this everyday hero placed himself between a threatening individual and a vulnerable family, using nothing but his presence as a shield. The most remarkable part? He simply continued with his day afterward, shopping bags in hand, as if protecting others was just part of his regular routine.