(Australia-NewsWire.Com, November 14, 2012 ) Victoria, Australia - Half a dozen Australian chefs are working to raise money for a colleague who was severely burned in a house fire.
Matt Golinski suffered burns to 40% of his body in the Boxing Day blaze that killed his wife and three daughters ages 10-12 at their Sunshine Coast home.
Manu Feildel, one of Australia’s top chefs, said it is impossible to know what Golinski is going through. But Feildel and five other chefs have been moved to try to help Golinski and other burn victims. They will donate their work on two European charity cruises next year.
“You always think that these things happen to others,” Feildel told the Herald Sun, “but when it happens to people who are very close, you don’t seem to want to believe it.”
Golinski has been in rehabilitation since he left the hospital in April. Golinski’s two business partners are keeping up their catering business, The Rolling Dolmade.
“It’s very tough for him in many ways,” Feildel said. “I know that he’s doing better every day, but he’s got a long way to go.”
He met Golinski on the set of Ready, Steady, Cook eight years ago.
The fundraiser, Cruise for Mates, is based on the successful Plates for Mates dinners that brought in more than $100,000. Travel agent Hilary Weir, of Harvey World Travel Garden City in Brisbane, came up with the idea of Cruise for Mates and hopes to raise $50,000-$100,000.
Two cruises are currently planned. The Grand France trip will extend over 19 days in June, accompanied by chefs Feildel, Alastair McLeod, and Janelle Bloom. A twin share on the river cruise will start at $9,998.
The second is the Magnificent Europe outing in August that will run 18 days from Amsterdam to Budapest with chefs George Calombaris, Gary Mehigan, and Damian Heads. The price starts at $8,990 per person.
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