In their eyes, there was no way that outgoing guy from the pub, who introduced himself to strangers and was always laughing with a beer in his hand, could be a registered medical professional.

"They would say that he must be the bouncer and just joking about being a nurse," his cousin Timetaake Baiteke laughed.

Imagine their surprise if, a few days later, they had gone to the emergency department at Griffith Base Hospital and bumped into those same tattooed arms and that same smiling face - this time decked head to toe in his scrubs.

Before moving to Queensland for work last year, Nabetari had worked at the hospital in Griffith for six years.

When he passed away last month, it came as a huge shock to his family, friends and coworkers back in the MIA.

Mrs Baiteke had worked with him at the hospital and had been looking after his teenage son since he moved away.

"I just couldn't believe the news when I first heard it," she said. "It was so unexpected and just heartbreaking."

Nabetari's death washed a wave of sadness over Griffith for those who had known him. But at the same time there was a rush of positivity, as the full extent of his impact over the city was revealed.

When they heard about his death, some of Nabetari's former colleagues at the hospital launched a GoFundMe to help his family with funeral costs.

The donations flooded in and in just three days, the online crowdfund has raised over $17,000. In three weeks, this has risen to $30,000.

"It was overwhelming the response from the people in Griffith," Mrs Baiteke said.

"It's made me realise how many people he's met who have been touched by him in some way in Griffith and I just want to thank them for giving back to Nabetari - it's just amazing."

She added that while it was a surprise, the incredible reaction did make sense considering how social and outgoing Nabetari could be.

"After talking to him for a few minutes it felt like you were lifelong friends," she said.

Many of the donations came from his friends from around town and from the pub, but many also drifted in from those who had been treated by Nabetari at the hospital, who remembered his smile and overwhelming positivity.

The money will help relieve some stress for Nabetari's family, who were able to hold the "perfect" funeral for him last week.

"We've had a lot of friends say that it was the perfect send off for him and it was probably exactly how he would have wanted," Mrs Baiteke said.

"Nabetari loved playing the ukelele so we did that both at the burial and during the service and it was really special."

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