This photograph depicts distinguished pathologist and melanoma researcher Professor Richard Scolyer AO (1966—2026). In 2024 Scolyer was co-awarded Australian of the Year with Professor Georgina Long AO in recognition of their contributions to melanoma research. Scolyer was diagnosed with glioblastoma, an aggressive brain and spinal cord cancer, in 2023 and was given six to eight months to live. Despite this prognosis he managed to stave off the disease for two years with a new frontier of brain cancer treatment developed by Long.
This portrait was taken after Scolyer’s complex brain surgery in March 2025 to determine whether his glioblastoma had returned. The surgical scar running across his left temple is a potent marker of Scolyer’s battle with cancer. This portrait conveys the courage and steadfastness of its sitter. While his cancer was incurable, Scolyer continued to receive treatment while living life to the fullest. His unwavering optimism and continued community involvement was an inspiration for many experiencing their own uncertain cancer journey. Scolyer passed away on 7 June 2026.
Purchased with funds provided by John Barrington AM & Fiona Harris AM 2025
© James Brickwood and Sydney Morning Herald
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