TRIBUTE: Mum says farewell to Bruce Highway, Kuttabul crash victim Beren Mason

A beloved fisherman and father died after sustaining critical injuries in a crash on the Bruce Highway. Now his family need support to give him a special send off.

He was adventurous and pensive, a fisherman and a father, now his family are calling for help to give him the send off he deserves.

Beren Mason, 41, was born in Bowen and sustained the injuries that would ultimately kill him just 160 km south on April 2, 2025 after a horror crash on the Bruce Highway.

He remains in Townsville, awaiting cremation.

His mother Pamela Mason is hoping for support so the family can scatter his ashes across Horseshoe Bay.

“It feels like I’ve left a part of me in Australia … I won’t feel complete until his ashes are sprinkled,” Ms Mason said.

Ms Mason came to the region with her husband and built houses for mining communities, which eventually led them to settle in Bowen.

Although Beren moved away from Bowen, he would return as an adult and work as a fisherman.

They eventually moved back to New Zealand but Beren’s heart never strayed far from the waters of north Queensland.

“When Beren was grown he wanted to see the country of his birth again … heard there was good fishing and work on the boats,” Ms Mason said.

“He headed off over to Oz.”

A silver Toyota Ute towing a caravan was hit by a silver station wagon which came out of Narpi Rd on the Bruce Highway, April 2, 2025, ultimately claiming the life of Beren Mason.

He passed away on April 28, 2025 and thanks to the generosity of 21 donors — who contributed $2100 to his GoFundMe — his family were able to be there for his final hours.

Brett Mason, Beren’s uncle and organiser of the GoFundMe, had a soft spot for Beren, made worse by the death of his own son at the age of 30.

Ms Mason said a lot of early photos had both Beren and Brett’s son Luke pictured together.

“We’ve got both boys missing now and that’s a heartache,” Ms Mason said.

Ms Mason said her son was an adventurer at heart and went to sea regularly as a deep sea fisherman.

Beren was preparing for his next fishing trip out to the reef and Ms Mason said he was “excited and talking about that” the night before the accident.
She said it was both sad and special to be with Beren at the end of his life and described moments of discovery — even after her son’s passing — such as the finding of Beren’s diary and poetry.

After Beren passed, Ms Mason described discovering a personal diary and poetry, something she didn’t expect he would write.

“I didn’t think a big gruff man would have poetry, but he did,” Ms Mason said.

“He was a deep thinker.”
Apart from a love for the sea, Beren was extremely enthusiastic about music, learning as much as he could about musicians and bands throughout their careers.

Beren and his family. Photo: contributed.

Beren was also father to three children Natalia, Cain and Mason and, although they were separated, he had a good relationship with his children’s mother.

“They were so grateful, happy and proud that he worked hard for their family,” Ms Mason said.

“He said he was happiest when he was with them.”

Beren also kept two staffies, Major and Jan, who “he loved very much” and had a close bond with.

Beren said the happiest moments of his life were those spent with his children. Photo: supplied.

Ms Mason said the dogs are awaiting rehoming with the RSPCA following Beren’s death, she hopes they will be able to remain together as a bonded pair.

An aspect of Beren’s death Ms Mason still grapples with was his health leading up to the accident, as she described Beren having an infected thumb, which she said was still visibly infected despite visits to medical practitioners.

Beren's dog Jan will have to rehomed after her owner's passing.

Ms Mason said if she could tell Beren anything she would tell him to “take better care of himself, because that’s what mothers do”.

“Men don’t go to the doctor, they don’t go to the doctor often enough when there’s a health problem,” Ms Mason said.

On April 29, 2025 Ms Mason shared to GoFundMe that Beren’s battle was over and “he is free now”.

Beren’s family wanted to express their gratitude to everyone who has supported them during this difficult time.

Anyone who wishes to further support the Mason’s as they put Beren to rest can make a donation to the existing GoFundMe.