Professor Richard Skolyer awarded Inner West Citizen of the Year

Thursday 1 May 2025

Media release
Inner West Mayor Darcy Byrne

The 2025 Inner West Citizen of the Year has been awarded to Professor Richard Scolyer AO.

This award is in recognition of the impact Professor Scolyer’s work has made on the lives of Inner West people and the hope and inspiration he has given to our whole community while facing adversity himself.

There are many Inner Westies alive today because of the breakthroughs that Professor Scolyer and his colleague Professor Georgina Long have made in the treatment of melanoma.

Countless more citizens will have their lives saved and prolonged because of their research in the decades to come.

More than that, the selflessness and compassion with which Professor Scolyer has approached his own very sad diagnosis has touched the hearts of everyone in the Inner West and people across the nation.

Richard’s determination to continue experimenting in treating his own cancer, and to keep sharing his story, has demonstrated a profound bravery that we have all found deeply moving.

This award is in recognition that through his work and his example Professor Scolyer has given our people hope that we can keep walking forward through adversity.

In doing so he has become an Inner West legend, whose story will be handed down from generation to generation.

His life’s work has been based at our own Royal Prince Alfred Hospital where he has dedicated himself to the health and welfare of our citizens.

Richard has been a proud member and volunteer for the mighty Newtown Swans AFL club over many years.

He is a regular at the GreenWay Parkrun, along Hawthorne Canal, a community event that he has kept participating in throughout his treatment.

Richard Scolyer is a shining example of what is best about the Inner West. We believe that as citizens we hold a responsibility to contribute to the betterment of our whole society.

We thank Professor Scolyer for everything he has done for us.

The love and respect of the whole Inner West community goes out to Richard and his family in these hardest days.

Ends

For media enquiries please contact Jonny Browne, Jonny.Browne@innerwest.nsw.gov.au