Richard Scolyer Honored at State Memorial Service at Sydney Opera House

John Thompson is Emeritus Professor of Melanoma and Surgical Oncology at The University of Sydney.

The professor is one of the speakers providing a eulogy at the service today, and he and Scolyer were colleagues at the Melanoma Institute of Australia.

"He was one of my best friends," Thompson said.

"He was a respected, special colleague but just the most amazing person and someone I'd known for 30 years since he was a very junior pathologist."

Thompson credited Scolyer's intellect and drive, saying a state memorial service is "entirely fitting" for the "great Australian".

During the service, tributes and eulogies will be delivered by the Governor-General Sam Mostyn, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, NSW Premier Chris Minns, and the family and friends of Scolyer.

Councillor Yvonne Weldon will perform a Welcome to Country and the Australian National Anthem will be sung by Georgina Hopson.

Peter Garrett AO will perform a song with Martin Rotsey and Freyja Garbett. There will also be a live performance by Kate Miller-Heidke.

In lieu of flowers, donations were encouraged to the Brain Cancer Group and Chris O'Brien Lifehouse.

Clint Bowen rode with Scolyer throughout multiple Tour de Cure rides, which raise critical funds for cancer research.

Ahead of today's service, Tour de Cure friends of Scolyer did a ride of their own to commemorate Scolyer's life, riding from Martin Place to Circular Quay.

"It's all about Rich ... we've got about 80 riders and 20 support walkers coming in," Bowen said.

"A really good turn out for who was a good friend and we really miss him a lot."

Bowen described Scolyer as a "rock star" and someone who was deeply kind.

Born in December 1966, Scolyer grew up in Launceston, Tasmania. He had a happy childhood playing footy, swimming, and riding bikes on caravanning holidays with his parents and older brother.

He was a pioneer of cancer research, an exercise enthusiast and a family man.

Scolyer, a pathologist and a world authority on skin cancer and melanoma diagnosis, had been credited with contributing to saving "thousands of lives from melanoma".

In 2024, Scolyer and a fellow esteemed professor, Georgina Long, were each named Australian of the Year for their work as melanoma treatment pioneers.

A year earlier, Scolyer was diagnosed with incurable Grade 4 brain cancer.

He chose to document his condition and treatment, sharing every step of the journey with the public.

This included undertaking a world-first treatment, involving undergoing immunotherapy before having a brain tumour removed.

Scolyer died on June 7, surrounded by loved ones.

You can read more about Scolyer's life here:

Public tickets for the service were exhausted within hours of being released on June 29.

Member of the public Gai Alderson arrived early for the service and had been following Scolyer's cancer journey and wished to pay her respects.

"I had a melanoma taken off my ear years ago ... and have been involved in the melanoma community," she said, noting Scolyer's role as a world authority on skin cancer and melanoma diagnosis.

"I just wanted to come and say goodbye. I only met him briefly to say hello [at a book signing], but I just feel so sorry for him and it's so terrible.

"He was wonderful."

A public memorial for the late Richard Scolyer is set to get underway soon at Sydney's Opera House.

The service for the former Australian of the Year and leading melanoma pathologist will commence at 11am.

The event will be broadcast live on ABC TV and streamed on ABC iview. The service will then be made available for later viewing on ABC iview on demand.

Radio coverage will be available on 702 ABC Sydney.

Scolyer was a pioneer in cancer research, having co-authored more than 800 peer-reviewed publications over more than 20 years on skin cancer and melanoma.