Local People: Tyler Richardson

by Stephanie Williams

After a shattering cancer diagnosis for his then-one-year-old Harris, Luca Brasi frontman Tyler Richardson has turned his family’s cancer journey into an opportunity to help others by founding Hazzy Forever Foundation.

Where did you grow up and where do you live now? I grew up on Tassie’s East Coast in Scamander, about 15 minutes south of St Helens.

What do you do for work? When I list it, it seems like a lot of hats, haha. I’m a teacher and back at it full time, I play in the band Luca Brasi, and various other things including running the foundation in our son’s name.

Your son Harris (Hazzy) was diagnosed with neuroblastoma, a form of cancer, when he was one. It’s every parent’s nightmare. How is he doing now? The little guy amazes us every single day. From knocking on death’s door for a long period of time to now just flourishing. He’s back in day care, playing with his pals and either being a legend or a total pest; just like every toddler should be! All we ever wanted was a happy and healthy little kid – something that’s so easy to take for granted until it’s taken away.

Since Hazzy’s diagnosis and treatment began, you and your partner Alix started the Hazzy Forever Foundation. What is your vision for the charity? Our initial idea was simply to help raise money for Neuroblastoma Australia and Red Kite, two organisations very close to our hearts. The shift then swung to realising that people really want to support a story, and these incredible kids have a story that is unfathomable. Our focus is now on awareness, helping fund research and an overarching view of supporting Tasmanians and their families going through the worst time you can imagine.

How do you balance the emotional weight of now running Hazzy Forever with the demands of touring, writing and performing with Luca Brasi? Brasi has taken a back seat for a while. When we got home something had to give and something as time consuming as music and touring was the domino which had to fall. Since then I’ve done some shorter touring in the US, and spot shows and festivals. It is a struggle for me to be away for long periods of time. The connection you forge through this is so intense that it takes some time to understand you can leave and things will be okay. In saying that – things are about to ramp up and I’m so excited to be back on stage.

What are your plans for Hazzy Forever and how can our readers support your work? Our inaugural athletics event is being launched very soon and I encourage everyone to support anyone they may see who has entered! Your money will go directly to supporting Tasmanian children who so desperately need it.

What’s something you wish more people knew about what you do? I guess the ripple waves these kind of diseases have, it’s not just the family directly affected, it becomes a whole community and the trauma is very real.

Who do you admire? I admire my wife and my son above all else. Alix kept us together and continues to do so with incredible strength. Hazzy keeps me grounded, nothing phases him and it makes you remember that the trivial does not matter and the day in front of you is all there really is.

Favourite podcast or tv show? Huge fan of Behind the Bastards Podcast and recently pretty obsessed with The Pitt!

Secret vice? I absolutely bloody love an Oreo. Man oh man. Too easy to eat a whole sleeve in the car on the way home from the supermarket and bin the wrapper…

What are you reading now? The Grapes of Wrath – John Steinbeck. Obsessed.

What was your first job? I was a dishwasher at a restaurant. Character building?!

What are your daily news/social media habits? Google News on my phone and read the paper at the coffee shop. I try to only download socials when I “need” to post something. That being said it inevitably ends up in way too long scrolling.

Your favourite place for…

Breakfast: Little Lotus.

Lunch: Salty Dog.

Dinner: Aloft.

Dream holiday destination? Croatia.

Favourite Tasmanian secret? The Four Tunnels swimming hole.

Parting words? As cliche as it sounds – people remember kindness. Cheapest way to feel great

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Hobart Happenings

by Steph Williams

Bits and Pieces- June 2026

Hobart Happenings

by Steph Williams

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Bits and Pieces- May 2026

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