Transcript from interview with Sarah Ferguson broadcast on 8 June 2026 at 7:45pm

Host, Sarah Ferguson: Sam Mostyn is the Governor-General and took up the post in 2024 when Richard Scolyer was Australian of the year. Governor-General, welcome to 7.30.

Governor-General: Thank you Sarah

Host: You've described Richard Scolyer's approach as "go for broke bravery". Is that his legacy, not just brilliance in medical science, but also in his attitude?

Governor-General: I think that describes it perfectly, Sarah. He wrote a letter to all Australians, after, to be read after his passing.I would encourage everyone watching to read and listen, from his own words. 

He talks about “having a crack”. He describes himself as a pretty regular fellow. We know he wasn't just regular. He was extraordinary. But he did have a crack, and he also faced into adversity. And he did so with humility and compassion.

He did say, he didn't think after a cancer diagnosis that should become the defining moment for anyone. Certainly not for him and to keep doing the work and he wants all of us to mark his passing and his contribution to Australian life by acting with compassion and humility, to following our dreams with a degree of doggedness and curiosity. They are remarkable gifts that Richard has left us.

Host: Why do you think those gifts touched so many people in the way they did?

Governor-General: I think we knew him and he was very generous and open with his story. We knew how he was going, how his family was so generous in sharing with us how he was. And he kept going and he kept talking with incredible optimism and positivity. I think he gave a lot of people a sense of hope. In the way he faced into his own terrible illness, and I think the way he’s left the letter for all Australians to read is why we've been so engaged with him as an Australian and someone who cared deeply about everyone else.

Host: Now, you’re at the MCG, having done the big freeze, completing a promise to Neale Daniher. Tell me why you made that promise to Neale Daniher and also did you survive today with your dignity intact, do you think?

Governor-General: Thank you for that. Firstly, there is something today that links Richard Scolyer and Neale Daniher.
They were both Australians of the year. Neale Daniher became the next Australian of the Year after Richard.

And both of these men had done things for the country and were both suffering from terrible, terrible illnesses and things that took their life in the end.Both talk about humility and compassion and selflessness, but do so with hope and positivity, so there’s something that unites these two men and we’ve lost both within a fortnight of each other, having celebrated them as Australians of the Year.

I got to know Neale from afar when I was on the AFL Commission a long time ago, I probably met him, I think, through Kevin Sheedy who described him as one of the best, not just best coach, or player, but one of the best people I could meet when I was on the Commission to understand football and to understand what it meant to live in the life of football and to be good about that and to do it well and, so I knew him, but not deeply.

When he came to Canberra on the eve of being announced as Australian of the year, he was well into his fight with what he called "the beast", MND, and we spent quiet time together. By this stage he had lost the power of his voice and all his communication was through his electronic equipment. But he could still laugh, he could still quip and before I got up to speak, he asked me to give a ripping speech, make sure it was worthwhile and worthy of the crowd.

And then we started talking about whether I would ever be able to participate in the big freeze and to go down the slide. And in that kind of context, to be seeing his words and hearing a voice he’s activating, saying, "would you do it?" And it almost felt, not quite a challenge, but a, “I would like you to do that, it would mean a lot,” and in that moment I said, “I can't say no to Neale Daniher,” so I was honoured to slide today.

I knew there would be a risk of some personal embarrassment but I didn't confuse that with the dignity of my office or the respect for my office and I thought about, on reflecting whether it would be, the dignity with which Neale conducted himself or 13 years managing one of the most heinous diseases that takes away all personal autonomy and relies on everybody else and the dignity that man showed, right the way to his death and what he did for all of us for MND, raising $150 million, talking to us about this disease and making us care, I was really proud as Australia's Governor-General to represent.

I think - I've been trying to think about this all day – and being at he the Gee and seeing almost 100,000 people cheering all the sliders on, for me he's the epitome of Australian community life and what happens when a commutiny gets behind someone and is inspired. We need more of that. So, I’m hoping it’s a little bit of help for MND and for a community that needs some optimism as well.

Host: It makes me think about something you said in your swearing in speech as Governor-General. You said, "care has a deep and resonant place in our Australian society". I hadn’t thought about it until you said that. Which takes me naturally to the Awards, the Honours today. What place do they have in a contemporary society? Is that about care now?

Governor-General: I think so, I think that's a lovely way of talking about it, Sarah. I like the way you framed that, that it can be a modern form of care.

I think historically the Australian Honours System is half a century old. And I think over time people lost sight of what it was set up to do in ’75 and who it was honouring. And I think it fell into a trap of being considered something “for the great and good” or someone, somewhere in Canberra was making decisions on who got medals.

Now that is not our Australian Honours System. It has always started with a nomination from the public, with referees and then a team at Government House working for the Council of the Australian Honours System, to determine whether those nominations meet the "above and beyond" test for the Honours System.

I think over time people stopped nominating. They saw people in the lists that probably they thought were just doing their jobs.
I don't think that's ever been the case, but it was something people could reflect upon. Certainly there were not enough women in the lists and we weren't seeing enough of what I would call the heart of our community being nominated and really, really respected for the work that keeps us together and that resonant hand of care I think is what we can return to.

I would implore everyone that’s listening and watching our conversation to think about who you could nominate and who’s not been nominated, and why did we not nominate them, because it would be my great honour along with the Governors around the States to be investing Australians who are really showing care in all of its forms, but often quietly, with a lot of humility, don't think they're worthy of it, but they’re the people that should be in our Honours System.

And I said most recently that I would love people to look at the Honours Lists in the next few years and say - I recognise our country through that list.

Host: Governor-General, I’m glad to see you warm and dry. Thank you very much indeed for joining us to speak about two great men as well as the awards. Thank you.

Governor-General: It’s been a great pleasure, thanks Sarah. 

Host: And if you would like to read the letter to us all by Richard Scolyer, you can find it on the ABC news website.