Fundraiser for Yeppoon’s Hamish Fairweather with devastating brain tumour

Although doctors have given a Queensland father of an three-month-old boy heartbreaking news, the community is rallying behind his family.

Hamish Fairweather and his son Miles.

Christmas 2023 will be Hamish Fairweather’s first as a dad and in devastating news, it could be his last.

The Yeppoon man, known by friends and family as Hammer, had a seizure in his sleep at home two weeks ago and was hastily flown to Brisbane by the Royal Flying Doctors Service to Brisbane.

A tumour was found in his left frontal lobe of his brain and he underwent an extensive surgery.

“Everyone was feeling quite positive, it was all going to get completely removed in the surgery,” friend Samantha Lancaster said.

Unfortunately a biopsy after the surgery came back with heartbreaking results.

The tumour was grade four (glioblastoma) and doctors gave Hamish a life expectancy of six months to five years.

The surgery had removed 90 to 98 per cent of the tumour and the rest was inoperable.

It is the most aggressive and fast growing type of brain cancer.

“No one was expecting it to be grade four … we were told grade four was more common in 50 to 70 year olds and not for someone so young,” Samantha said.

Hamish 'Hammer' Fairweather with his newborn baby, Miles.

Hamish is just 31 years old and has a three month-old baby, Miles, with his partner Anna.

Samantha has known him for more than 15 years and her husband and Hamish are best mates.

She and her partner have also recently had a baby of their own and Samantha said they were very excited for their boys to grow up together.

“It’s just heartbreaking; it hit home a lot more with their little three-month-old Miles,” she said of the diagnosis.

Hamish Fairweather with baby Miles in a Brisbane hospital.

Wanting to help in some way, Samantha started a fundraiser online to support the costs of Hamish’s treatments, medical bills, accommodation and flights.

“If we could do anything to help ease any of that burden,” she said.

“Hamish isn’t the type of person to ask for help.

“Anna is also on maternity leave so they only have one income at the moment.”

Initially, Samantha set a goal of $30,000 and that was reached within three days.

She has now raised $37,220.

“The support has been insane,” Samantha said.

“That’s a full attribute to Hamish, he is so well loved and known in Yeppoon, he’d give the shirt off his back to anyone.”

To donate to the fundraiser for Hamish, visit here.