Cash raised to help pay for the funeral of a local grandfather and businessman has been stolen.
At this month’s Bethania Community Market, hundreds of dollars were raised for the widow of Waterford West man Daryl McCann.
Mr McCann owned Sum Blokes BBQ Rubs & Spices, and was a well-loved member of the market community.
He died on 6 July, five hours after suffering a medical episode while at a Redland Bay market.
Efforts to help pay for Mr McCann’s funeral were quickly posted online, earning thousands within a week.
Bethania markets founder Ashleigh Hassell said a bag of cash containing the funds was stolen at last weekend’s market.
“Daryl was a lovely guy, and we wanted to support his family – every month we do a raffle fundraiser to support someone or something,” she said.
“We raised $300 or $400, and in the money bag was my profit for the day and the raffle money, and a lady has stolen the money from under my nose.
“And it was all captured on video.”
Ms Hassell has handed the footage to police.
Mr McCann’s wife, Deb, said she couldn’t believe someone would steal the money.
She said she was immensely grateful for the kindness of the local community.
“All the love, support and kindness [Daryl] showed to the market community… has come back to me,” she said.
Ms McCann described her husband as caring and helpful.
“He was a bit of a larrikin, he was very witty, funny, and he had a great sense of humour,” she said.
“He was very thoughtful and kind, and I miss all those little things he used to do for me every day.
“I knew he was loved by many in the market community, but I didn’t know the extent of it until he passed.
“He would not hesitate to help at a market – he would set his stall up and then go and see if anyone else needed a hand.
“He always had a smile on his face.”
Mr McCann was affectionately called ‘Boss’, because that was his nickname for everyone – stallholders, his children and sometimes his wife.
“I got a special kind of ‘boss’ because I’m his wife,” Ms McCann said.
“He was well loved in the market community, and he is going to be very missed.
“And at home it’s the same.”
Mr McCann’s business, Sum Blokes BBQ Rubs and Spices, sold native Australian bush herbs.
The fundraising page, set up by a group of local market organisers and vendors, can be found here: gofund.me/103fa3a5.
