Michael McCormack (Riverina, National Party) | Hansard source

Those were beautiful, powerful and heartfelt words from the member for Chifley. We all share his raw emotion. I can tell by looking at him that he is very touched, as we all are and will go on being, by Richard Scolyer's life. Australia has lost two giants in recent weeks: Neale Daniher AO and Richard Scolyer AO. Both should be posthumously awarded ACs because they are the best of the best—two 'ordinary men', in their own words, who've done extraordinary things for Australia, particularly in fighting insidious diseases. As members of parliament, we should do—and do do, I think—everything we can to increase funding for diseases which beset our nation. These two men have done so much to raise awareness and the stakes, in making sure that we—in Neale Daniher's case—fight motor neurone disease.

I'll speak more about Richard Scolyer and his battles against melanoma and other cancers in this contribution, but we can ill afford to lose two men of their ilk and calibre and credentials at such a young age. Richard Scolyer was 59; Neale Daniher was 65. They probably lived a lot longer than some of the sufferers of the diseases which took both of those fine gentlemen, but they still went way too soon. They were still way too young, and they still had so much more to give. But their memory and legacy will live on thanks to their courage and the unique way that they both campaigned and advocated for and on behalf of the communities of people who are bedevilled by their suffering from MND and melanoma. The member for Chifley mentioned our sunburnt country, and, yes, we are.

I'm so very pleased that Annette St Clair, a wonderful human being from Wagga Wagga, has been asked to attend the state funeral service for Richard at the Sydney Opera House on 13 July, and she's quite moved by that invitation. Richard Scolyer and Annette St Clair met about eight years ago through Melanoma Institute Australia. Just two years ago, Professor Scolyer came to Wagga Wagga as a guest speaker at the annual Amie St Clair Melanoma Ball, held in honour of Annette and Peter's beautiful daughter, Amie, who died of melanoma in 2009. She was taken way, way too soon.

The world renowned pathologist and 2024 Australian of the Year passed away on 7 June. Annette said it was inspiring to hear his story throughout his journey. She told the local newspaper, the Daily Advertiser:

He shared his personal story and he was just such a brave, compassionate man—

and we heard that from the member for Chifley a moment ago. She continued:

He was the most warm, caring, generous man.

On Saturday, about lunchtime, I received an invitation that has come from his wife, Katie, and his family to invite us, which was lovely.

My husband and I feel very humbled to be invited to his state funeral.

Annette, the Wagga Wagga community and, indeed, the nation have been so touched and are mourning the loss of Richard. No-one is mourning it more than his wife and children. They shouldn't have lost their dad. He's fought the good fight. He's finished the race. He's kept the faith to make sure that people know about this disease and other cancers and know to do something about it. My thoughts and love and condolences go out to Katie and his children, Emily, Matthew and Lucy. It is a profound loss that they have suffered. I listened closely to the words of the Prime Minister, the Leader of the Opposition and the Minister for Health and Ageing yesterday before question time. I think everybody shared their deep and meaningful words about what a loss this nation has suffered.

As the member for Chifley has just pointed out, the letter that Richard Scolyer wrote just prior to his death should be required reading in our schools. It shared the journey, the emotion and, you could almost argue, the Australian larrikin spirit of this bloke, and I'll call him a bloke because he was just one of us, but, then again, he was so much more special than most of us, because he knew what lay ahead. He knew that he was going to succumb to the diseases that were afflicting his body, and yet he used his final months, weeks, days and hours to send a message to the nation about what can be done, what should be done and how we should act. That is extraordinary, when, as the Prime Minister said, as did the member for Hume, most people would use those moments to shrink away from society, to spend them with family and perhaps to feel sorry for themselves, but not Richard Scolyer, not this man, not this bloke. Wow! What an amazing human being he was and is, quite frankly. I used the present tense there because he will continue to be a name that will resonate throughout this nation. Whenever melanoma is discussed, whenever funding is required and whenever awareness needs to be raised, the name Richard Scolyer will live on. Vale to a brave and warm and amazing Australian.

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