Matthew Makinson’s widow Charlotte Mumford speaks on life after his death

The devastated partner of a celebrated Sunshine Coast horseman and crash victim has shared details into the day her world shattered and how she survives for their daughters.

Matthew Makinson was killed in a fatal crash at Mountain Creek in April 2022. Pictured here with his daughter Lilly, now six-years-old. Photo: Contributed

Every parent looks forward to their baby’s their first word. For widowed mother-of-two Charlotte Mumford, this was extra special when her nine-month-old baby girl, Maddy, said “daddy”.

‘Daddy’ is someone little Maddy will never have the privilege of meeting.

Matthew “Matty” Makinson, 31, was killed when his 2018 Mitsubishi Triton left the road east of Seriata Way and crashed into trees off the Sunshine Motorway on-ramp at Mountain Creek on April 30, 2022. His body, still in the mangled wreck, wasn’t found until several hours later.

Ms Mumford understood her partner was on his way to help a friend at the time but “didn’t get to where he was supposed to be going”.

Charlotte Mumford and Matthew Makinson were together for eight years. The couple share two daughters, Lilly and Maddy (not pictured). Photo: Contributed

She was 20 weeks’ pregnant with baby Maddy and raising the couple’s eldest daughter Lilly when the love of her life was killed.

Between heartfelt sobs, she recalled the day her world shattered around her.

It was early on the morning after the crash when the local cop, who Ms Mumford said she had known since she was a child, arrived on her front doorstep.

“He said to me ‘I need to tell you something and I need to tell you away from (Lilly)’,” she said.

The two went out to a deck at the front of the house, where the officer shared two words Ms Mumford hoped she wouldn’t hear.

“All he said was ‘he’s dead’,” she recalled.

On the anniversary of his death, Matthew Makinson's family placed a homegrown garden on his grave. Photo: Contributed

Overcome with grief, she collapsed into the officer’s arms.

Somehow, she managed to send Lilly to daycare with a friend while dealing with the ripple effect of others waking up to the devastating news.

When Lilly came home, she had to tell her what happened.

“I said that ‘daddy had a car accident and that he wants to come home but he can’t’,” she said.

The next few months were a grief-stricken blur. Mr Makinson was laid to rest three weeks after the accident, and Ms Mumford, still pregnant, took Lilly out of school and went out west to a friend’s station.

She only returned to the Sunshine Coast to have baby Maddy, named after the father she never knew.

Her middle name, chosen by her big sister, was Skye, because “daddy (is) up there”.

Baby Maddy Skye Makinson was named after her late father, who died a few months before she was born. Photo: Contributed

“She’s a blessing. She’s my last little gift from him,” Ms Mumford said.

Now living with her mother and the two girls in Maleny, Ms Mumford said she went into survival mode for her children after the tragedy. Life has been a “struggle” and “a hustle” ever since, she said.

“You have to put your big girl boots on and keep going,” she said.

“I wouldn’t wish this on anybody.”

She now lives her life as a legacy to her partner, whether it be through spending time with his mates or by attending rodeos.

Mr Makinson, a celebrated horseman, was Australian Bareback Champion twice in his life. His last competition was in the Royal Sydney Easter Show weeks before he died.

Matthew Makinson was a celebrated horseman and bareback rider. Photo: Contributed

Ms Mumford said she had experienced unwavering support from numerous people, including those in the rodeo community.

On the anniversary of his death on April 30, the family gathered at his grave to present a homegrown garden to lay on top of it.

She said she still felt his presence, with flickering lights and other unexplained moments, but was still learning to live without him.

“Everything is a trigger, but I’m learning to live with it,” she said.

Lilly will say hello and goodbye to a photo of Mr Makinson, she said, but he lived on through her.

Matthew Makinson with his daughter Lilly. Photo: Contributed

“She’s definitely her father’s daughter … nothing phases her. She breaks her arm and she laughs about it,” she said with a chuckle.

“Talking with her is like talking with him.”

She attributed Lilly’s strength throughout the ordeal to being Mr Makinson’s daughter, saying “(Lily) wouldn’t have survived (his death)” otherwise.

She described Mr Makinson as a “tough, true blue, Aussie cowboy” who had a passion for animals and horses and would “give (anyone) the shirt off his back” if they needed help.