MATT'S HEARTBREAK 'I LEARNT SO MUCH FROM MY DAD'

The broadcaster has a deeply personal reason for doing reality television

- Amy Prebble

For beloved broadcaster F Matt Gibb, there was a heartbreaking motivation for joining the cast of Celebrity Treasure Island.

The former Squirt star signed on for the gruelling competition because he was determined to raise money for the Cancer Society after losing his father to a rare form of skin cancer in February 2020.

"Dad had a really short and intense battle with Merkel cell carcinoma," Matt tells Woman's Day, wiping away a tear. "We found a tumour in his neck and thought an operation would hopefully do the trick. But by that point, it had spread too much, so it was just a matter of spending as much time with him as we could. It was four months from diagnosis to us losing him."

Matt was living and working in Sydney at the time his dad Eddie was diagnosed but says his employers at the Australian Broadcasting Corporation were incredible and let him spend the time he needed with his father.

"I am eternally grateful that we were all with him when he passed away and we were all able to be there for the funeral, unlike many families at that time. Just two weeks after his funeral was when the borders closed and restrictions kicked in."

Matt returned to Australia after the funeral and had to process the loss of his dad in isolation. "It was pretty tough," he admits. "He was the most loving dad. He would never let you go to sleep without knowing that he loved you. He was everything you'd hope for caring, sweet and funny. I learnt a lot from him."