And in her darkest hour, Ashmont resident Heather Tilden this week caught a glimpse of that light.

What Ms Tilden was forced to endure on Tuesday would be enough to test even the Pope’s faith.

Awoken in the early hours of the morning, she looked outside to see her pride and joy – a red and white Holden Commodore emblazoned in Sydney Swans colours – engulfed in flames.

The charred shell of the car remains on the front lawn of her Adams Street home, a jolting reminder of the sheer wanton vandalism that destroyed it.

Speaking to media later that day, Ms Tilden was more empathic than enraged, the true mark of a person.

She didn’t call for the arsonists to be catapulted from the city or burned at the stake, saying she would rather see them “get help” for their sickness.

The loss of Ms Tilden’s vehicle was soon the furthest thing from her mind.

Later that same night, she received the devastating news her sister had passed away.

Plunged into grief, she was still choking back tears when she received a call from an unknown number on Wednesday.

She steeled herself for more bad news.

But it was Harry Cunningham, the Wagga-born player for her beloved Swannies.

He extended the club’s sympathies to Ms Tilden and her family, offering to send her a signed guernsey and tickets to a 2017 Swans home game.

She will also be able to meet the players – her heroes – in the sheds before the match.

After such an emotional 24 hours, it was a welcome distraction and a welcome tonic for the proud Ashmont resident.

It also displayed the club’s charitable heart, especially towards its fans.

The Swans call was one of dozens of calls from well-wishers Ms Tilden fielded on Wednesday.

Incidents like the one that beset her are a stark illustration of the best and worst in our community.

But we should never forget that for every thief or vandal in Wagga, there are a thousand others ready to extend the hand of help.

And despite the bleak news that regularly appears in the media – both traditional and social –  that’s a point we should never forget.