Sarah Konoski

Former Australian of the Year Richard Scolia passed away on Sunday night, aged 59.

The aggressive brain cancer that Richard had been fighting with experimental immunotherapy for two years returned in March last year.

I spoke with Richard for Conversations in late 2024.

He was so lovely, humble but determined and full of gratitude to his family and medical colleagues.

A truly remarkable Australian.

And we're bringing you that conversation again today.

When Richard Scolia and his friend and colleague Georgina Long were announced as Joint 2024 Australian of the Year, Richard took to the stage in Canberra and said this in his acceptance speech.

I stand here tonight as a terminal brain cancer patient.

I'm only 57.

I don't want to die.

Just 10 months earlier, Richard had gone from being one of the world's leading melanoma researchers and pathologists to a cancer patient himself.

After collapsing in a hotel room in Poland, a golf ball-sized tumour was discovered in his brain.

And at the time, the prognosis was dire.

It was likely that Richard would be dead within a matter of months.

But then Georgina suggested that they try using the radical approach the team had pioneered to melanoma treatment on the cancer growing inside Richard's brain.

His new memoir is called Brainstorm.

Hi, Richard.

Lovely to have you here in many ways.

What do you remember about standing on stage that night at the Australia Day Awards?

What was going through your head and your heart?