We continue to be inspired by the ground-breaking contributions to medicine of alumnus Professor Richard Scolyer AO (BMedSc ‘87, MBBS ‘90) who has been awarded Joint Australian of the Year in the 2024 Australia Day Honours for work in melanoma research and recent breakthroughs in brain cancer treatment.
Richard has recently been diagnosed with brain cancer, and he and his colleague Professor Georgina Long AO at the Melanoma Institute Australia are turning their attention to revolutionising brain cancer treatment, following their success in the fight against melanoma.
We had the chance to speak to Richard recently to learn more. Read the interview here.
Image credit: NADC / Salty Dingo
The full list of alumni recently recognised in the Australia Day honours are:
Prof. Richard Scolyer AO (BMedSc 1987, MBBS 1990) Joint Australian of the Year 2024 with Professor Georgina Long AO for work on melanoma that has saved thousands of lives and, more recently, for developing a series of world-first brain cancer treatments based on their melanoma breakthroughs
The Hon Larissa Giddings AO (BA-LLB 1998) for distinguished service to the people and Parliament of Tasmania, and to the community
Prof. Kirsten Auret AM (GradCert in Health Service Management Safety & Quality 2023) for significant service to palliative care medicine, and to tertiary education
Ms Helen Geard AM (BA 1995 , Grad Dip EnvSt 2001) for significant service to youth, and to the community
Mr Gregory Johnson AM (MBA 1996) for significant service to community health through diabetes governance, reform and education
Clinical Assoc. Prof. Kathleen Tymms AM (BMedSc 1973, MBBS 1976) for significant service to rheumatology, and to professional associations
Ms Elizabeth Crummy OAM (DipFamHist 2022) for service to youth, and to the community
Ms Jane Haley OAM (BEd 1979) for service to the arts through administrative roles
Mrs Caroline Jackson OAM (BA Hons 1973, DipEd 1995) for service to language education
Ms Sarah Nilsson OAM (MHSM 2019) for service to nursing
Mr Michael Clyde Patten OAM (BA 1974, DipEd 1975, GradDipSpecEd 1979) for service to the community through a range of organisations
Mr Graeme Loy PSM (MBA Health Management 2010) for outstanding public service to healthcare; in particular, the delivery of COVID-19 related services
Ms Sophie Muller PSM (BA 1996, MPubPol 2007) for outstanding public service and leadership in Tasmania’s COVID-19 pandemic response through the instrumental development of essential policies and documents
Ms Laura Pyszkowski PSM (BNurs 2003, GradDipN Specialisation 2012, MSN Specialisation 2014) for outstanding public service through exceptional leadership and innovation to acute care and the community during the COVID-19 pandemic
Commander Kate Chambers APM (BAProfHons Specialisation 2018) Australian Police Medal
Mr Jason Elmer APM (GradCertPoliceSt 2007, BAProfHons Specialisation 2021) Australian Police Medal
Mr Lyndon Gabites AFSM (Advanced Fire Fighting 2011, VocGradCert in Management Learning 2014) Australian Fire Service Medal
Ms Lindsay Mackay ASM (BParamedPrac Conv 2017) Ambulance Service Medal
Mr Christopher Beattie ESM (BSc 1995, DipEd 1996, BSc Hons 1997) Emergency Services Medal
Commander Claire Jones CSC RAN (BE 1999) for outstanding achievement in armaments engineering management and acquisition for the Australian Defence Force.
It’s wonderful to see these alumni receive this well-deserved recognition. Congratulations to all.
First published in Alumni and Friends eNews.
We love to hear about University of Tasmania graduates who receive awards. Please contact Alumni.Office@utas.edu.au