Gold Coast teacher Matt Fydler funeral Lindisfarne Anglican school
A teacher and father-of-two who had some of Australia’s biggest sports stars rally for him, has lost his battle to cancer, prompting his wife to post it’s ‘the saddest day of my life’.
Gold Coast
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The life of a father and teacher - described as the “nicest man I’ve ever met” – cemented into the Gold Coast community was celebrated on Sunday after he lost his battle to cancer.
Matt Fydler was diagnosed just over a year ago with rhabdomyosarcoma – a rare type of cancer that can form in soft tissues, connective tissues or bones.
The father-of-two moved to Germany to see a Sarcoma specialist who offered advanced therapy. It came after radiation therapy, surgery and two rounds of chemotherapy in a nine-month period didn’t work.
Mr Fydler, 43, passed away last Saturday.
His funeral was held at Lindisfarne Anglican Grammar, where he had taught for 20 years.
Guests were asked to wear bright coloured clothing “to match the light Matt brought into everyone’s life”.
Mr Fydler, known to his mates as Fyds, was loved by many and his story touch just as many including Queensland sports stars. Last September sports stars such as tennis ace Ash Barty and surfers Mick Fanning and Joel Parkinson donated items to be auctioned off for his treatment.
Last August a punters’ club with 100 close mates and well-known punters put their money together to also help fund Mr Fydler’s treatment.
His GoFundMe page raised $197,201 with 1200 donations and last Monday his wife Amy shared an emotional message on the page.
“The saddest day of my life has finally come and I’m beyond devastated to inform you all of the peaceful passing last night of my best friend and husband Matty boy,” the message said.
It goes on to say Mr Fydler was “the bravest, strongest and most resilient man” during his 13-month battle with Rhabdomyosarcoma and he passed away at Wedgetail Retreat with Amy by his side.
His wife shared how proud she was for how hard her husband fought and the inspiration the high school teacher brought to students, colleagues and families.
Amy said his “positive energy radiated to everyone he met” and their kids are a “lasting legacy” and “we will honour you every day in every way”.
“The world lost the nicest man I have ever met last night. He has been taken from us way too young and way too early,” the post said.
“It’s so heartbreaking for my little kids, I will never be able to reconcile or understand why the universe would take away their daddy and my husband and our hero.
“Matty boy, rest now my love, suffer no more and until we meet again I will see you everywhere I go.
“I will love you forever. Your Aims”
The message finished by asking people to give the family space and not send any flowers, rather to donate to Wedgetail Retreat Community Hospice.
The Tweed Heads school Mr Fydler was a teacher at for two decades sent a message to staff, students, parents and friends to share the devastating news.
“Matt, and his family, faced the enormous challenge that this diagnosis presented, with courage, grace and determination. They left no stone unturned as they battled the cancer with multiple rounds of chemotherapy, radiation and trial treatments both here, and in Germany,” the message said.
“It is impossible to overstate the impact that Matt has had on our school community. Matt started with us at Lindisfarne in February 2000, dedicating nearly half his life to his students and our Lindisfarne community.”
The message went on to say Mr Fydler had held many roles at the school and was a passionate advocate for indigenous students and programs.
“Matt has always been incredibly decent, kind and thoughtful in his relationships with students, staff and parents. He has been the sort of teacher who is able to laugh with his students but at the same time has their utmost respect,” the message said.
The school went on to say they will wrap their community around his extended family providing them “love, our prayers and our continued support and care”.
To donate to Wedgetail Retreat Community Hospice visit. tweedpalliativesupportandwedgetailretreat.com
'AMAZING' AMOUNT RAISED BY AUSSIE ATHLETES FOR TWEED TEACHER
September 30, 2022
A TWEED teacher fighting for his life on the other side of the world broke down when told some of Australia’s top athletes and the Gold Coast community had raised more than $160,000 for expensive treatment.
Sports stars such as tennis ace Ash Barty and surfers Mick Fanning and Joel Parkinson donated items to be auctioned off for Matt Fydler.
The 44-year-old was diagnosed with rhabdomyosarcoma, a rare type of cancer that can form in soft tissues, connective tissues or bones.
Despite the father-of-two having radiation therapy, surgery and two rounds of chemotherapy in a nine-month period, he was told by doctors to say his goodbyes to friends and family.
Never one to give up, the Lindisfarne Anglican Grammar School teacher moved to Germany after he and wife Amy found a Sarcoma specialist who offers advanced but expensive treatment.
An online auction and a ticketed fundraiser at Balter Brewery’s Currumbin taproom was held to help pay for his expenses.
Close friend and Balter Brewery head of operations Aaron Waters said the auction and last Friday’s fundraiser raised $160,850.
“It was incredible,” he said. “People have been very generous and to come away with over $160,000 shows how good of a bloke Matty is and how much the community cares for him.”
Mr Waters said a most moving moment was when a room of 140 people on the Gold Coast contacted Mr Fydler in Germany to tell him how much was raised.
“He was overwhelmed. He had a taxi waiting for him to take him to a CAT scan but he held off going until he heard the final tally.
“When Matty was told how much was raised he broke down.”
The highest selling item from the auction was a Fanning-signed 2015 world tour jersey that went for $16,000.
Parkinson’s last-ever World Tour competition board went for $9300.
Barty’s signed Wimbledon championship uniform was bought for $8800.
Separate getaways for four to Bonville Golf Resort in NSW and Jonah’s Restaurant and Boutique hotel in Whale Beach earned $22,000 combined.
Mr Waters said ticket sales contributed $18,000 and another $40,000 was raised on the night.
“We were aiming for $50,000, then $100,000 but to end up with what we did was truly amazing,” he said.
“We just want to take away the financial burden for Matt so he can do what he needs to overcome this.”
Fanning, Barty, Simpson’s auction for teacher’s cancer fight
September 22, 2021
SOME of the Gold Coast and Australia’s top athletes are auctioning off memorabilia for their mate who is moving to Germany for lifesaving treatment.
Matt Fydler’s life changed when he noticed pain in his bicep while swinging on monkey bars with his two children.
With no history of illness, the Lindisfarne Anglican Grammar School teacher didn’t think much of it but decided to see a doctor.
Days later, he received the news that a biopsy had confirmed that he had rhabdomyosarcoma, a rare form of cancer that can form in soft tissues, connective tissues or bones.
After nine months of radiation therapy, surgery and two rounds of chemotherapy, Mr Fydler, 44, was told by doctors to go home and get his affairs in order.
The father and husband refused to lose hope, and with wife Amy, they found a Sarcoma specialist in Germany who offers advanced but expensive treatment.
His best mate Arron Waters has teamed up with six friends to walk 100km on Moreton Island over four days in November to raise money for their friend.
Mr Waters is the head of operations at Balter Brewery and was going to be joined by business partner and friend Mick Fanning for the walk but instead something magical happened.
“Blokes like Joel Parkinson and Bede Durbidge are doing the walk but Mick couldn’t make it,” Mr Waters said.
“He offered his rash vest that he wore at the 2015 Pipeline Masters for auction.
“Then Ash (Barty) offered her Wimbledon winning uniform.
“We realised there’s something in it and started an online auction.”
The vest worn by Fanning was chosen by him because it’s from the event where he learnt his brother had passed and close friends supported him through a tough time.
Barty’s iconic uniform is from when she was crowned the ladies singles champion at this year’s Wimbledon.
The auction has many items including a signed guitar from Cody Simpson, a signed surfboard from Parkinson and the ‘Ultimate Balter Experience’ – where four mates will brew beer with Balter brewer Scotty Hargrave and surf with Parkinson and Durbidge.
Mr Waters said the aim is to raise $100,000 from the auction that closes at 8pm on Friday.
Balter Brewery is hosting a fundraising event at the Currumbin taproom on Friday evening, where the amount raised will be officially announced.
Visit events.humanitix.com/unite-for-fyds for event tickets and app.galabid.com/fyds/items
for the auction.
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