Man noticed the driver ahead of him in line at the gas station put in just $7 of gas — his quiet gesture left another driver in tears
More often than not, news of people being too self-centered and individualistic plagues us. After all, in a world where everyone believes in minding their own business, how much sense of community can we really expect? That was likely the mindset of many at the BP station in Currambine around 10:30 p.m. on April 6, 2026. They had all come to fill their tanks and head off in their own directions. So had 34-year-old Monty Van Der Berg. But something he noticed in the car ahead made him stop and think. As reported by PEOPLE on April 9, 2026, that single thought led to an unexpectedly emotional moment for several strangers.
Van Der Berg was simply waiting for his turn when something about the vehicle ahead caught his attention. The driver had only put in $7 worth of fuel. In a split second, he decided to act. When the next car pulled up beside him, he said, "I hope you're filling up because I'm going to pay for it." That didn’t stop there, because he quietly went on to pay for more people from the kiosk. Maybe the act felt more impactful because he wasn't overthinking it. Berg also remembered having a small voice in his head saying, "Here's my chance," and he simply acted on that impulse.
Needless to say, the action caused a ripple of emotions among everyone. One woman was moved to tears as she recalled how she was really exhausted from a difficult shift at work, and just felt overwhelmed with appreciation for the gesture. Another woman named Gerville also gave an interview to 7NEWS, expressing her heartfelt gratitude to Van Der Berg. Especially because she is a single mother and works three jobs. For someone who has to work day and night to make ends meet, that gesture must have felt truly unexpected. "It was so nice to see other people light up. It was such a nice moment," she added.
At the end, Van Der Berg had spent around $340 at the gas station that day, and according to him, it wasn't even a big deal. "That's my one thing every time I fill up, I like to pay for at least one other person," he said. The reasoning behind his act added another layer to the kindness. He informed that there had been times when he couldn't afford a full tank because he was living paycheck to paycheck, and he knows there are many like that even today.
So, he made it a habit to always help one person at the gas station now that he is doing well, owning a construction business. He also made it clear that he did not do it for praise. Gerville hopes to run into Van Der Berg again someday and pay him back. Maybe empathy doesn’t come from intention alone, but from having lived through something similar.