The 2024 Australians of the Year,Professor Georgina Long and Professor Richard Scolyer,brought tears to the eyes of the audience with their moving speech.
“We have dedicated our lives to saving lives from cancer. But eight months ago,the stakes became personal,” Long said.
“I stand here tonight as a terminal brain cancer patient,” Scolyer said. “I’m only 57,I don’t want to die.”
The melanoma experts have been applying the principles of their breakthroughs in that field
“The decision to take on Georgina’s ground-breaking plan was a no-brainer,” Scolyer said.
“Here was an opportunity for us to crack another incurable cancer and make a difference,if not for me then for others.”
In a heartfelt conclusion to the speech,Long addressed Scoyler directly:“Richard,I hope for nothing more than for the both of us,in twelve months’ time,to be standing here passing the baton to the next Australian of the Year.
The pair used their speech to call for a greater emphasis on sun safety as prevention for melanoma.
“Sadly,everyone knows someone with melanoma. It’s as Aussie as our golden beaches and our sweeping plains,” Scolyer said.
“Tomorrow,thousands of Aussies will be soaking up the sun working on their tans,or as we see it brewing their melanomas,” Long said.
“Our bronzed Aussie culture is actually killing us.”
In addition to promotion prevention,they called for a targeted screening program and greater investment in melanoma research.