I lost my son two years ago - I’m honouring his memory the best way I know how

“Music was a huge part of his passions, so I thought that a music festival a fitting way to honour him,” the Tasmanian dad says. 

Nick Chugg has always been surrounded by music. 

As a musician for the band White Hills, the Tasmanian dad spends most of his days surrounded by guitars, amps and microphones. 

But he has also spent his fair share of time in hospitals. 

His son, Zander, was born with gastroschisis, a birth defect consisting of a hole in his abdomen, leading to an extended intestine which was removed, resulting in short bowel syndrome. 

Tragically, Zander passed away in 2020 at the age of 17 from a blood infection. Now his dad is celebrating his son’s legacy  - with a music festival. 

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Music influenced much of Zander's life, and even met Foo Fighters' David Grohl when he was nine. Source: The Mercury

“In the first five years of his life, we spent two or three in a Ronald McDonald House”

The first five years of Zander’s life were filled with hospital stays and operations. 

“We spent quite a lot of time in the Melbourne’s Royal Children's Hospital, the Royal Hobart Hospital, Launceston General Hospital,” dad Nick told The Mercury.

Two or three years of his early days were spent in a Ronald McDonald House, giving the family a chance to relax while their son was undergoing treatments. 

When Zander wasn't undergoing treatment, he was with his dad playing music.

Just like his father, Zander was a “huge music fan” and spent his life surrounded by bands, concerts and, of course, plenty of musical instruments. 

“He played guitar, and I spent every night when he was little teaching him guitar before bed; it was our bedtime ritual,” Nick said. 

“Zander was a big Foo Fighters fan. He went and watched the Foo Fighters in Melbourne and met them in 2011 through the Make a Wish Foundation.

“It was one of Zander’s favourite stories, singing on stage with Dave Grohl – he was only nine years old at the time,” he said. 

Zander was a huge fan of attending gigs, his dad continued. A few years after meeting Dave Grohl, he saw the Foo Fighters again before going to concerts on his own. 

“He met Jebediah, snuck backstage and met the band. When he told me, it was a proud dad moment,” his dad said. 

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Nick is honouring his son's memory with a music festival - Z Fest. Source: The Mercury

“Music was one of Zander’s passions … a festival is a fitting way to honour him”

In the two years since the teen’s death, Zander’s family has hosted an annual festival, dubbed “Z Fest”, on a family farm for roughly 50 friends and family. 

“Music was a huge part of his passions, so I thought that a music festival [was] a fitting way to honour him,” Nick explained.  

The first two Z Fests, albeit small, raised between $1,000 to $2,000. 

But this year, things will be different - Nick is bringing the festival to the public and has hopes to raise $20,000 for the Ronald McDonald House Charities in Tasmania and Victoria.  

“I think it’s starting to dawn on me as I talked to our production supervisor [friend Michelle Robinson] on Saturday the enormity of what we’re about to pull off,” he said. 

“I’m getting chills up my spine getting the last bits organised.” 

The lineup for Z Fest includes Melbourne acts Loser and Willie J & The Bad Books,  plus local acts Nat McDermott, Allison Bell Band, Backyard Business, Voodoo Rhythm Devils, Napoleon Dodo & His Wind-Up Dolls, and Alfarè, which consists of Nick Chugg, his son Josiah and nephew Oscar. 

Z Fest will take place on 21 October from 2pm, with tickets ranging from $40 to $180, and kids under 12 gaining free entry. You can find more information about Z Fest here.

Originally published as I lost my son two years ago - I’m honouring his memory the best way I know how