Whitsundays local Matt Costello passes aged 44

A beloved father of eight and rugby union stalwart is being mourned after he left his Whitsunday hometown for a family funeral and never made it back home.

A beloved family man who had a “Colgate smile” and a “heart of gold” was out of town for the funeral of his niece, but as fate would have it he never made it back home to his partner and eight children. Picture: Contributed

A beloved family man who had a “Colgate smile” and a “heart of gold” was out of town for the funeral of his niece, but as fate would have it, he never made it back home to his partner and eight children.

Matt Costello was well known of the Whitsundays community to be a hard-working family man and a dedicated volunteer for the local rugby union team, the Proserpine Whitsundays Raiders.

The 44-year-old, who worked in the processing department at the Prawn Farm, was seemingly “in good health” when he left his partner Jasmin Reynolds to head to Mount Isa last Sunday.

Tragically, he had a heart attack, “went to sleep and never woke up” his grieving partner explained.

Whitsundays resident Matt Costello passed of a heart attack at the age of 44. Picture: Contributed

“He literally messaged us that morning, saying: ‘Good morning babe, how are you? Miss you and the kids. Love you all’, Jasmin recalled

“We could have prepared more if he had been sick or expecting it, but it was so sudden.

“I haven’t seen him or been there with him when he actually left. That’s the hardest part.”

Matt Costello and his children Shaykaya (18), Deakoda (18) and Shakane (21). Picture: Contributed

Proserpine Whitsundays Raiders Coach Andre Houston remembered Matt as a “quite well-spoken gentleman, well mannered” who had two of his kids involved in the rugby league team and would be “cooking up a storm on the barbecue” to make sure teams were well fed.

Mr Houston said Matt worked “long hours” to provide financially and make sure his children could go to all the different games around Queensland.

“We live in a regional area and in sporting you have to go to Rockhampton just to train,” Mr Houston said.

He said he remembers that night when the club gave Matt an appreciation award to reward his work as a volunteer this year.

“He came up and spoke to me about how thankful he was for me to be present in his children’s lives,” Mr Houston said.

“It was my last conversation with him.”

Matt Costello and his daughters Mataysis, (6) Shanaya (14) and Leshara (10). Picture: Contributed

Matt was remembered as quiet but “observant” person by both his family and co-workers.

“He was so quiet, he’d barely spoke but he had a smile that would light up the whole world, we’d always joke to say he could be in a Colgate commercial because his teeth are so white and he just had this beautiful smile,” Jasmin said.

“As quiet as he was, he’d be the first person to give the shirt off his back, you know?”

“My oldest son, he had some of his friends ringing and crying, saying: ‘he was like a dad to us too’, you know?”

Jasmin said she was grateful to the Whitsunday community for all the support they received, through the Go FundMe page that was set up by the Whitsunday Rugby League Club, which already raised $7,275.

But she also felt “blown away” with the support her and her family received with people dropping off meals or just reaching out.

“It’s a beautiful community we live in,” she said.

Matt Costello will be buried in his hometown Dajarra, which is about two hours south of Mount Isa.