Australians of the Year Richard Scolyer and Georgina Long – the Peninsula Living September cover stars –met His Majesty King Charles III at Melonoma Institute Australia (MIA) in Wollstonecraft on Tuesday.
The King spent 30 minutes at the institute where he was given an insight into melanoma early detection, diagnosis and treatment advances by MIA Co-Medical Directors and 2024 Australians of the Year professors Long and Scolyer.
Willoughby resident and MIA chief executive officer Matthew Browne was part of the delegation who hosted the King.
“It was a privilege to have hosted His Majesty this afternoon on behalf of the entire team at MIA, to shine an international spotlight on melanoma, Australia’s national cancer, and our groundbreaking efforts to save lives from the disease,” Mr Browne said.
Australia has the highest melanoma rates in the world with one Australian diagnosed every 30 minutes and one Australian dying every six hours from the disease.
Due to research breakthroughs led by MIA, the five-year survival rate for advanced melanoma has increased from less than five% a decade ago, to now more than 55%.
Professor Scolyer presented His Majesty with a gift of an iconic broad-brimmed hat, which he accepted with a broad smile. Mr Browne added: “The visit to The Poche Centre was a once in a lifetime opportunity and will also keep melanoma prevention front of mind for all Australians as we head into summer, and hopefully will also spark sun safety conversations globally.”
Manly resident and co-founder of Melanoma March, James Economides, also was present to meet the King.
Mr Economides lost his 20-year-old son Michael to melanoma in 2008 and was formally introduced to His Majesty this afternoon on behalf of all families impacted by the disease.
“It was an incredible honour to meet His Majesty this afternoon and I feel so humbled to have represented all those who have lost a loved one to melanoma,’ Mr Economedes said. “Back in 2008 there was little they could do for Michael, and so we were driven to start Melanoma March to raise awareness and money for research so that other families didn’t have to go through what we did.”
The first Melanoma March was held in Manly in 2012. Twelve years on, the family-friendly community walking event is now MIA’s major national awareness and fundraising campaign, so far raising over $6 million since its inception.
Richard Scolyer, Georgina Long, Matthew Browne with His Majesty King Charles III outside the Melonoma Institute Australia
Credit: MIA