Australia Menggelar Penghormatan Richard Scolyer dan Menyoroti Isu Terorisme

Masyarakat Australia menyelenggarakan upacara penghormatan kenegaraan untuk mengenang mendiang Profesor Richard Scolyer, peneliti kanker terkemuka sekaligus Australian of the Year 2024, di Gedung Opera Sydney pada Senin (13/7/2026).

Acara tersebut dihadiri oleh lebih dari 1.500 pelayat, termasuk Perdana Menteri Anthony Albanese, Gubernur Jenderal Sam Mostyn, dan Premier New South Wales Chris Minns, guna mengapresiasi kontribusi besar mendiang dalam riset pengobatan melanoma dan kanker otak.

"In the great constellation of the Australian story, Richard was without question one of our brightest stars," ujar Anthony Albanese, Perdana Menteri Australia.

Perdana Menteri Albanese juga menjuluki Profesor Scolyer sebagai aset nasional yang menjalani kehidupan yang benar-benar luar biasa sebelum wafat pada usia 59 tahun akibat glioblastoma.

Sahabat sekaligus rekan sejawat mendiang, Profesor John Thompson, menyoroti keberanian sang pakar patologi yang bersedia menjadi pasien pertama untuk menjalani uji coba imunoterapi eksperimental sebelum operasi pengangkatan tumor dilakukan.

"With typical determination and acutely aware of the science involved, Richard courageously volunteered for a very risky form of treatment that had never been tried for brain tumours before, in the hope others benefit from the information obtained." kata John Thompson, Rekan Peneliti Kanker.

"Although he ultimately succumbed, he survived much longer than normally expected." kata John Thompson, Rekan Peneliti Kanker.

"He was one of my closest friends and I shall miss him greatly." kata John Thompson, Rekan Peneliti Kanker.

Sementara itu, istri mendiang, Katie Nicholl, mengenang kembali memori perjalanan pernikahan mereka selama 24 tahun yang penuh dengan keceriaan dan petualangan bersama.

"This is a wonderful metaphor of our life together," ucap Katie Nicholl, Istri Richard Scolyer.

"We headed out and spent hours together laughing and having so much fun, and we were pretty much inseparable since then." ucap Katie Nicholl, Istri Richard Scolyer.

"We will love and miss him forever, but when I look at his life and the people he shared it with, it was wonderful." ucap Katie Nicholl, Istri Richard Scolyer.

Ketiga anak mendiang, yakni Emily, Matthew, dan Lucy Scolyer, turut menyampaikan rasa bangga mereka terhadap sosok ayah yang dinilai sangat penyayang, jenaka, serta gemar mengajak mereka menikmati alam terbuka.

"Our dad was the best dad we could have ever asked for," tutur Lucy Scolyer, Anak Richard Scolyer.

"We're so lucky to call him my dad." tutur Lucy Scolyer, Anak Richard Scolyer.

"Dad was always there for us and never failed to make us smile or laugh," tutur Matthew Scolyer, Anak Richard Scolyer.

"He taught us everything we know and we will strive to make him proud for the rest of our lives." tutur Matthew Scolyer, Anak Richard Scolyer.

"A true Tasmanian, dad loved sharing his appreciation of the outdoors with us," tutur Anak-Anak Richard Scolyer.

"Our dad was the best dad we could ever ask for. And he continues to inspire us every day. We're so lucky to call him our dad.

He was the most kind, funny, loving and cheekiest person we knew. Dad was always there for us and never failed to make us smile or laugh. He taught us everything we know and we will strive to make him proud for the rest of our lives." tutur Anak-Anak Richard Scolyer.

Di tempat terpisah, situasi keamanan nasional Australia turut menjadi sorotan setelah Menteri Dalam Negeri Tony Burke memberikan keterangan resmi terkait kepulangan seorang warga negara perempuan yang memiliki keterkaitan dengan kelompok ISIS dari kamp Suriah.

"There is a reason why one person stood out from others in terms of the temporary exclusion order information," kata Tony Burke, Menteri Dalam Negeri Australia.

"I was surprised when all the remainder of the cohort returned, but I think they weren’t quite expecting that some of them would be met at the airport by the Australian federal police because we already had the evidentiary burden there to be able to press charges." kata Tony Burke, Menteri Dalam Negeri Australia.

"Everybody who went to join [Islamic State] made an unconscionable decision … and while they were there, there were a range of unacceptable behaviours across the cohort." kata Tony Burke, Menteri Dalam Negeri Australia.

Pemerintah Australia memastikan bahwa proses hukum dan pengawasan ketat tetap diberlakukan bagi setiap individu yang kembali dan terbukti melakukan pelanggaran hukum terkait aktivitas terorisme di luar negeri.