'Gobsmacked': community shows up for man seriously injured in house fire

The Advertiser

3 days ago

Music was pumping, sausages were sizzling, and the Brights were overwhelmed with the show of support for their brother.
Matthew Bright was rushed to hospital after suffering burns to 40 per cent of his body in an accidental kitchen fire in Waratah just before 5pm on July 7.
Out the back of a local coffee spot on Sunday, July 27, the Waratah community wanted him to know he was not alone.
"It's amazing, it's just an incredible show of support, you can see how many people love and support Matthew," Hugh-Angus Bright, Matthew's brother, said.
Dan Brown, better known as the Mullet Lord online, held a fundraiser for Mr Bright's recovery at Lords Coffee and Associates in Waratah.
Beginning at midday, Mr Brown said there was a "crazy" line out the front of the shop, and by 1.30pm he reckoned roughly 150 people had stopped by.
"It's been quite a turnout, even the firies rocked up, which was really cool to see," he said.
Like any fundraiser, people lined up to buy raffle tickets, but there weren't your typical prizes.
Along with headgear and boots signed by the Knights' Kalyn Ponga, and a painting from Otis Carey, Mr Brown was parting with pieces of himself.
Known for his long mane, the Mullet Lord snipped off strands to go to four lucky bidders.
"They say haircuts don't hurt, but that one did," he said.
"It stung every part of my body, but I've always been a team player and anything to raise money for Matt."
Mr Bright's sister Ellie Bright said he was "gobsmacked" at the amount of community support pouring in through their GoFundMe page.
"It's a terrible situation, but it has brought the best out in everyone around us," she said.
"It makes me sad that there are so many people who might not have the network or the ability to do this type of thing."
Mr Bright was receiving care at Sydney's Royal North Shore Hospital, where his condition, while serious, had stabilised.
His brother, Nicholas, said they were taking it one day at a time.
"We're just staying in the moment, and every day he is getting better," he said.
The siblings said yesterday was a good day as Matthew had his favourite beverage, a diet coke, and listened to Triple J's Hottest 100 of Australian Songs.
Ms Bright said her brother's recovery was heading in the right direction.
"I kept saying he's having small wins every day and that will compound to big wins over time," she said.
"That's all we can ask for."
Music was pumping, sausages were sizzling, and the Brights were overwhelmed with the show of support for their brother.
Matthew Bright was rushed to hospital after suffering burns to 40 per cent of his body in an accidental kitchen fire in Waratah just before 5pm on July 7.
Out the back of a local coffee spot on Sunday, July 27, the Waratah community wanted him to know he was not alone.
"It's amazing, it's just an incredible show of support, you can see how many people love and support Matthew," Hugh-Angus Bright, Matthew's brother, said.
Dan Brown, better known as the Mullet Lord online, held a fundraiser for Mr Bright's recovery at Lords Coffee and Associates in Waratah.
Beginning at midday, Mr Brown said there was a "crazy" line out the front of the shop, and by 1.30pm he reckoned roughly 150 people had stopped by.
"It's been quite a turnout, even the firies rocked up, which was really cool to see," he said.
Like any fundraiser, people lined up to buy raffle tickets, but there weren't your typical prizes.
Along with headgear and boots signed by the Knights' Kalyn Ponga, and a painting from Otis Carey, Mr Brown was parting with pieces of himself.
Known for his long mane, the Mullet Lord snipped off strands to go to four lucky bidders.
"They say haircuts don't hurt, but that one did," he said.
"It stung every part of my body, but I've always been a team player and anything to raise money for Matt."
Mr Bright's sister Ellie Bright said he was "gobsmacked" at the amount of community support pouring in through their GoFundMe page.
"It's a terrible situation, but it has brought the best out in everyone around us," she said.
"It makes me sad that there are so many people who might not have the network or the ability to do this type of thing."
Mr Bright was receiving care at Sydney's Royal North Shore Hospital, where his condition, while serious, had stabilised.
His brother, Nicholas, said they were taking it one day at a time.
"We're just staying in the moment, and every day he is getting better," he said.
The siblings said yesterday was a good day as Matthew had his favourite beverage, a diet coke, and listened to Triple J's Hottest 100 of Australian Songs.
Ms Bright said her brother's recovery was heading in the right direction.
"I kept saying he's having small wins every day and that will compound to big wins over time," she said.
"That's all we can ask for."
Music was pumping, sausages were sizzling, and the Brights were overwhelmed with the show of support for their brother.
Matthew Bright was rushed to hospital after suffering burns to 40 per cent of his body in an accidental kitchen fire in Waratah just before 5pm on July 7.
Out the back of a local coffee spot on Sunday, July 27, the Waratah community wanted him to know he was not alone.
"It's amazing, it's just an incredible show of support, you can see how many people love and support Matthew," Hugh-Angus Bright, Matthew's brother, said.
Dan Brown, better known as the Mullet Lord online, held a fundraiser for Mr Bright's recovery at Lords Coffee and Associates in Waratah.
Beginning at midday, Mr Brown said there was a "crazy" line out the front of the shop, and by 1.30pm he reckoned roughly 150 people had stopped by.
"It's been quite a turnout, even the firies rocked up, which was really cool to see," he said.
Like any fundraiser, people lined up to buy raffle tickets, but there weren't your typical prizes.
Along with headgear and boots signed by the Knights' Kalyn Ponga, and a painting from Otis Carey, Mr Brown was parting with pieces of himself.
Known for his long mane, the Mullet Lord snipped off strands to go to four lucky bidders.
"They say haircuts don't hurt, but that one did," he said.
"It stung every part of my body, but I've always been a team player and anything to raise money for Matt."
Mr Bright's sister Ellie Bright said he was "gobsmacked" at the amount of community support pouring in through their GoFundMe page.
"It's a terrible situation, but it has brought the best out in everyone around us," she said.
"It makes me sad that there are so many people who might not have the network or the ability to do this type of thing."
Mr Bright was receiving care at Sydney's Royal North Shore Hospital, where his condition, while serious, had stabilised.
His brother, Nicholas, said they were taking it one day at a time.
"We're just staying in the moment, and every day he is getting better," he said.
The siblings said yesterday was a good day as Matthew had his favourite beverage, a diet coke, and listened to Triple J's Hottest 100 of Australian Songs.
Ms Bright said her brother's recovery was heading in the right direction.
"I kept saying he's having small wins every day and that will compound to big wins over time," she said.
"That's all we can ask for."
Music was pumping, sausages were sizzling, and the Brights were overwhelmed with the show of support for their brother.
Matthew Bright was rushed to hospital after suffering burns to 40 per cent of his body in an accidental kitchen fire in Waratah just before 5pm on July 7.
Out the back of a local coffee spot on Sunday, July 27, the Waratah community wanted him to know he was not alone.
"It's amazing, it's just an incredible show of support, you can see how many people love and support Matthew," Hugh-Angus Bright, Matthew's brother, said.
Dan Brown, better known as the Mullet Lord online, held a fundraiser for Mr Bright's recovery at Lords Coffee and Associates in Waratah.
Beginning at midday, Mr Brown said there was a "crazy" line out the front of the shop, and by 1.30pm he reckoned roughly 150 people had stopped by.
"It's been quite a turnout, even the firies rocked up, which was really cool to see," he said.
Like any fundraiser, people lined up to buy raffle tickets, but there weren't your typical prizes.
Along with headgear and boots signed by the Knights' Kalyn Ponga, and a painting from Otis Carey, Mr Brown was parting with pieces of himself.
Known for his long mane, the Mullet Lord snipped off strands to go to four lucky bidders.
"They say haircuts don't hurt, but that one did," he said.
"It stung every part of my body, but I've always been a team player and anything to raise money for Matt."
Mr Bright's sister Ellie Bright said he was "gobsmacked" at the amount of community support pouring in through their GoFundMe page.
"It's a terrible situation, but it has brought the best out in everyone around us," she said.
"It makes me sad that there are so many people who might not have the network or the ability to do this type of thing."
Mr Bright was receiving care at Sydney's Royal North Shore Hospital, where his condition, while serious, had stabilised.
His brother, Nicholas, said they were taking it one day at a time.
"We're just staying in the moment, and every day he is getting better," he said.
The siblings said yesterday was a good day as Matthew had his favourite beverage, a diet coke, and listened to Triple J's Hottest 100 of Australian Songs.
Ms Bright said her brother's recovery was heading in the right direction.
"I kept saying he's having small wins every day and that will compound to big wins over time," she said.
"That's all we can ask for."