GoFundMe created for Rockhampton’s Nunn family after house fire and tragic death
A Central Queensland family suffered two tragic losses in 24 hours, with a beloved father and husband losing his battle with colon cancer and their home destroyed in a fire.
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When Bronwyn Nunn lost the “light of her life” in the father of her two young children to cancer on Boxing Day, she decided the family would stay not in their Wandal home, but her mother’s Emu Park home.
It was a decision that likely saved all three of their lives.
Sadly, it could not save the lives of all 13 cats in the compassionate couple’s care.
The family were shocked after “fantastic dad” Tony Nunn passed away on Boxing Day morning following a difficult four year long battle to colon.
Kerryanne Pederick, a friend of the family and Bronwyn’s fellow Capricorn Animal Aid cat co-ordinator, said she had been providing emotional support to the Nunn’s, who knew the 52-year-old was facing the end of his tumultuous battle.
“Tony was a beautiful person like Bronwyn,” Ms Pederick said.
“He was a happy fella,” she said.
“Great laugh... loved his fishing, loved his kids, loved his pets.
“He just absolutely adored all the foster cats.
“He was the light of Bronwyn’s life and the love of her life and just a fantastic dad.”
While Bronwyn and Tony’s heartbroken children, Bradley, 10, and Lauren, 8, stayed with their grandmother after their dad’s passing, their mum initially remained behind in the Wandal family home they shared.
The same unbearable weight of grief crushing Bronwyn and keeping her from sleep might just have saved her life.
“She actually drove down to the beach to be with her kids,” Ms Pederick said.
It was Ms Pederick who received the call from police after the late night blaze.
Emergency services were called to the house fire on Duncan Street, Wandal, at 10.55pm on Tuesday, December 26, and a crime scene was declared.
“The family has just been through quite a lot in the last four years, knowing Tony had terminal colon cancer and it had spread to his liver and kidneys,” Ms Pederick said.
“And then at 11pm that night I got a phone call from police asking me to get in contact with Bronwyn because her house was burning down.
“I was in Mackay when they rang me and we drove straight home because I knew Bronwyn wouldn’t be in any state to be able to deal with anything like that.”
Ms Pederick said Bronwyn had about 13 cats she was looking after as she is a foster carer.
Incredibly, Bronwyn’s dog and two cats were saved from the blaze.
But some of the other cats were not so lucky.
“We are doing some leaflets now and are going to hand them around,” Ms Pederick said.
“We have had a sighting of one of the cats.
“They told me they have found some perished.”
She said she was being contacted by people asking what they could do and, with the families permission, created a GoFundMe fundraiser.
“I thought that would help them get through with clothes and bits and pieces until they can get themselves on their feet,” she said.
On Thursday morning, the fundraiser’s tally was more than $9000.
“It’s just blown me away,” Ms Pederick said.
“Bronwyn and her family have given so much to the community.
“She’s such a beautiful person and her family is such a beautiful family.
“The kids volunteer, she volunteers and Tony has helped out where he can.
“She is one of those people who always gives and never takes and that’s why it has been very difficult for her to accept she is going to need some help.
“In the one day she lost her husband, house and pets. This shouldn’t happen.”
Ms Pederick said they want to give them “a little bit of light” and let them know people “are putting their arms around them and supporting them in the community.”
“The kids have lost everything,” she said.
“The little girl was given a violin for Christmas because she wanted to do violin at school.
“I have been in contact with the school and they are going to organise a new one for her.
“We don’t want the memory for those kids to be as sad as it is.”
To donate to the GoFundMe fundraiser, go to https://www.gofundme.com/f/for-bron-and-her-family.
Tony’s funeral will be held in the East Chapel of the Rockhampton Crematorium on Thursday, January 4, 2024 at 11am.
A funeral notice shared by Finlayson and McKenzie reads, “In lieu of flowers Donations to the Mater Oncology Unit would be appreciated”.
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