Maggie Schneider’s fierce tribute to her father Matt
Two years after losing her beloved father, ‘Mr Everywhere’ Matt Schneider, 10-year-old Maggie is embodying his ‘kind but fierce’ legacy.
Gold Coast
Don't miss out on the headlines from Gold Coast. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Be kind but be fierce.
That was the mantra loved and lived by the late ‘Mr Everywhere’ Matt Schneider.
And it seems the apple of his eye didn’t fall far from the tree.
Two years after the city lost one of its best and brightest lights to cancer at the shocking age of 39, his youngest child and only daughter is taking up his torch.
This week, ten-year-old Maggie Schneider, one of his three beloved ‘blondies’, is shaving off her long locks as part of the World’s Greatest Shave, and her fundraising page is a perfect example of the kindness and fierceness she inherited and embodies.
“If you are here, it probably means that you know me; or you knew my awesome dad, Matt Schneider; or you know and love my incredibly brave 3 year old cousin, Pippa,” Maggie’s page states.
“Cancer is a terrible disease, no matter how old or how young you are. My cousin is 3 years old and she has leukaemia. My dad passed away at 39 years old from cancer in 2023, when I was 8 years old.
“To me, ‘Shaving for a Cure’ means that I can help support the kids and adults who are still fighting this horrible disease every day. My contribution will play a small role in hopefully one day finding a cure for this disease, and to help those families who are also suffering – just like the many people who helped to support me and my family.
“Also, I think my hair might make a great wig for someone who has lost their own hair during chemotherapy!”
If you visit this page (and please do) take a moment to look at the photo of Maggie’s beautiful tresses, and think about how much a little girl’s hair means to her.
The truth is that every person involved in the World’s Greatest Shave deserves a column to themselves for the sacrifice they are making, but my hope – and the hope of those who know and love both Maggie and Matt – is that those hundreds of lives that Mr Everywhere touched flood this fundraiser with the karma credits he earned during those too-brief years.
For those who never knew Matt Schneider, allow me to give a brief recap.
He was a town planner driven by a social conscience and a deep love for the Coast. Along with leading Urbis Gold Coast, Matt was president of the Southport Sharks, director of Placemakers Gold Coast, executive member of the City Heart Task Force, fellow of the Planning Institute of Australia, and had board positions at Griffith University, the Property Council of Australia, Study Gold Coast, Bond University, Light Rail Business Advisory Group, Top 100 Women in Construction and was a former member of the Gold Coast Music Advisory Group.
But his involvement in this almost ridiculous list was never about self-promotion or professional advancement, it was simply about seeing the Coast succeed.
He was kind and he was fierce. Which perhaps explains how, even as of mid-last week, Maggie had already raised an incredible $14,000.
But this is as much about Maggie as Matt. How incredible to make such a bold, brave decision to help others.
Losing a parent is never easy, but losing them young is especially hard – as the years go by, it’s not the memories you had that make you sad, but the memories you never got to make. Birthdays, graduations, weddings.
So as someone who also lost their father to cancer while still a child, I wanted to share my own message to Maggie and her brothers, Oliver and Louis.
Even with an incredible mother like your own guiding you at home, it’s hard to ever fill that hole of grief.
But I promise you it will transform into a source of empathy, maturity and resilience that will become your superpower.
It’s like a little fire that always burns inside – and it’s one that your father will forever feed.
Fiercely.
TO DONATE TO MAGGIE’S FUNDRAISER CLICK HERE:https://www.worldsgreatestshave.com/fundraisers/maggieschneider/2025
Originally published as Maggie Schneider’s fierce tribute to her father Matt
Inside the LNP’s campaign meltdown
The beers were flowing and plates of half-eaten pizza slices sat cooling as the Gold Coast’s LNP faithful watched on grim-faced. They had won the local races – but nationally they were facing a nightmare.
Clive Palmer reveals shock next move after election fiasco
Clive Palmer‘s Trumpet of Patriots suffered diabolical results in the election, prompting the billionaire to make a drastic call.