A Legacy of Courage and Compassion
Professor Richard Scolyer, a globally renowned melanoma expert and former Australian of the Year, has left an indelible mark on the world of cancer research and patient care. His life, marked by resilience and innovation, came to an end at the age of 59 after a courageous battle with terminal brain cancer. His journey has now been honored with a state funeral, as confirmed by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.
Scolyer’s story is one of determination and hope. Diagnosed with a grade four glioblastoma in 2023, he was given only months to live. However, he refused to accept this fate. Alongside his colleague, Professor Georgina Long, he pioneered immunotherapy research that transformed the treatment of melanomas. This groundbreaking work was later used to treat his own brain cancer, showcasing his commitment to advancing medical science even in the face of personal adversity.
In a heartfelt open letter published at midnight, Scolyer reflected on his life, family, and achievements. He expressed his desire to be remembered as a “proud everyday Aussie who ‘gave it a crack’.” The letter serves as a final farewell to all those who have supported him throughout his journey.
Prime Minister Albanese led tributes to Scolyer, calling him a “remarkable man” and expressing deep sorrow over his passing. Speaking to reporters, he confirmed that Scolyer’s wife, Dr Katie Nicholl, had accepted the offer of a state funeral. Albanese praised Scolyer for his courage, determination, and grace, noting that his journey was one of profound generosity.
Scolyer’s contributions to cancer research are unparalleled. Over his 35-year career, he dedicated himself to patient care, cancer research, and improving lives. He was the first patient to receive experimental brain cancer treatment based on melanoma science he helped develop. He also participated in the development of a brain cancer clinical trial and advocated for greater investment in brain cancer research.
His proudest achievements include generating new evidence leading to life-saving advances in melanoma diagnosis and treatment, helping to start the world’s largest melanoma biobank, and becoming the world’s most published melanoma pathologist. He was named Australians of the Year in 2024 for his breakthrough world-first melanoma cure.
Scolyer urged researchers to remain inquisitive and brave, cancer patients to consider enrolling in clinical trials, and governments and the wider community to keep funding science. He believed that cancer does not define us, but rather highlights what truly matters—relationships, friendship, and selflessness.
The impact of Scolyer’s journey extended beyond his professional achievements. His family, including his wife, Katie, and their children Emily, Matthew, and Lucy, were deeply affected by his battle with cancer. He expressed immense gratitude for their love, support, strength, and compassion, calling them shining examples of the best of humanity.
Scolyer’s childhood was filled with adventures built on “how,” not “if,” which shaped his belief that nothing is impossible. His legacy will continue through the recently established Richard Scolyer Chair at the Chris O’Brien Lifehouse, a testament to his enduring influence on cancer research.
As Australia mourns the loss of one of its brightest lights, Scolyer’s message of hope, resilience, and compassion remains a guiding force. His journey, though difficult, was one of profound generosity, inspiring others to pursue their dreams with humility, love, and compassion.
An Open Letter to All Australians
My fellow Australians,
I pen this letter as a final goodbye to all those I have had the immense privilege of loving, sharing life’s adventures with, working alongside, and meeting during what can only be described as a life filled with happiness, optimism, opportunity, and passion.
My intention is for this letter to be published upon my passing—as my final farewell.
I’ve spent the last three years being open and honest about my journey with glioblastoma (brain cancer), in part to be transparent about what cancer patients and their families go through, and in part to provide hope and inspiration that we can and should continue to push boundaries to propel the cancer field forward.
Having dedicated my 35-year working life to patient care, cancer research, and improving lives, I wanted to keep contributing, even in my darkest hour.
I am extremely proud of my impact—from my lifelong career as a world-leading melanoma pathologist and cancer researcher, to being the first patient to receive experimental brain cancer treatment based on melanoma science I helped develop, followed by participation in the development of a brain cancer clinical trial and advocacy for greater investment in brain cancer research.
I sincerely hope the scientific data and awareness I have generated will provide a platform for others to build upon to ultimately make a difference for future cancer patients.
I am perhaps lucky that the physical and cognitive impacts of the final stages of brain cancer mean that I am unlikely to have been aware of my own decline over these final weeks. I write this knowing that my wonderful family would have been by my side every minute, as they have been throughout my cancer journey.
Like all families living with cancer, the impacts have been far wider than just on me.
Since my diagnosis in May 2023, our family has been thrown challenges that we didn’t plan or want. But those same challenges have also drawn us closer and reinforced that family is everything.
I cannot thank my beautiful wife Katie and my adored children Emily, Matthew, and Lucy enough for their love, their support, their strength, and their compassion.
They are shining examples of the best of humanity and make me extremely proud.
Much love also to my elderly Mum and Dad in Tasmania, my brother Mark, and many friends for their strength and support, particularly during these recent years.
My childhood was full of adventures built on “how,” not “if,” which set me on a path to being inquisitive and truly believing nothing is impossible.
If you will allow me one final indulgence, composing this letter encouraged me to reflect proudly on my role in generating new evidence ultimately leading to life-saving advances in melanoma diagnosis and treatment.
I helped start what is now the world’s largest melanoma biobank, became the world’s most published melanoma pathologist, authoring over 1,000 research publications, and lectured hundreds of times at conferences across the globe.
I am also proud to have held leadership roles at the American Joint Committee on Cancer and the World Health Organisation and many other international organisations.
In addition to my roles in the development of breakthroughs in melanoma treatment, including immunotherapy, and the subsequent soaring of advanced melanoma survival rates, my mentoring of the next generation of clinical doctors (including pathologists) and cancer researchers has perhaps been the greatest reward to come from my life’s work.
I have always been driven by the belief that we all have a responsibility to try to change the future for others and leave the world a better place.
From mentoring PhD students in the translational research lab and early career clinicians in hospitals, to taking on the undeniably risky experimental treatment for brain cancer and undergoing swathes of voluntary medical tests purely to advance scientific knowledge of brain cancer—I have lived that ethos to the fullest.
I was incredibly humbled when the federal government recently named the Chair in Brain Cancer Research at the Chris O’Brien Lifehouse in my honour.
Such public accolades have never sat entirely comfortably with me, but I am delighted that much-needed brain cancer research will continue to be funded long after I have gone.
To my research and clinical colleagues, I implore you to stay inquisitive and brave and keep striving to break new ground. To all cancer patients, I encourage you to consider enrolling in research and clinical trials, if on offer. And to government and the wider community, please keep funding science and medical research. This is the most impactful way that you too can make a difference.
Perhaps the greatest lesson to come from these last three years is that cancer does not define us. It may be the current road we are travelling, but it is not our entire journey.
A terminal cancer diagnosis does, however, provide clarity as to what truly matters. It shines a spotlight on the importance of relationships, on true friendship, and on selflessness.
Whilst cancer may not define us, our ability to empathise with and have compassion towards others does. That is true in all facets of life, and I am confident those traits will continue to guide Australians towards acceptance and support for all.
My final message to all Australians is to say thank you for your outpouring of love and support for me and my family. Those of you I met during my travels as joint 2024 Australian of the Year, my amazing online community which spans many countries, and of course my hometown Tasmanians—you’ve laughed with me, cried with me, and provided encouragement and support to keep going just when I needed it most.
I haven’t sugar-coated my journey and I sincerely thank you for allowing me the space and opportunity to share it with you, warts and all.
I hope I have in some small way made the road ahead easier and smoother for others.
If my legacy was to continue beyond these words, I would be delighted and humbled to be remembered as a proud everyday Aussie who “gave it a crack,” and in doing so, inspired others to pursue their dreams and passions with humility, love, and compassion.
With much love and gratitude,
Richard.
