Friday, 5 September 2025
Government House
Her Excellency the Honourable Margaret Beazley AC KC

We have a tradition here at Government House of welcoming guests in the language of the Gadigal, Traditional Owners of these lands

Bujari Gamarruwa

Diyn Babana, Gamarada Gadigal Ngura

In doing so, I pay my respects to Gadigal Elders past, present, and emerging, as well as to the Elders of all parts of this beautiful country from which you have travelled.

The tradition is also, at formal occasions, for me to begin my words with an acknowledgment of the dignitaries in the room, carefully not leaving anyone out, or, worse still, putting them in the wrong order.

Today, I break from that tradition a little. This is not because of a want of dignitaries, all with an array of honorifics and titles —former parliamentarians,^[1] one of our most accomplished test cricketers,^[2] leaders in cancer research and care^[3]—but because all in this room, as integral parts of the story we honour today, are worthy of special acknowledgment.

As such, I revert to a single phrase from the language of the Gadigal to encapsulate and include every single one of you. It is this: Eora Bujeri, which means ‘Good people’.

So…

Eora Bujeri, welcome to Government House and this celebration of two decades of the McGrath Foundation.

And what an incredible story.

It began 20 years ago with Jane McGrath and the care she received from her breast care nurse whilst undergoing treatment for cancer.

The wrap-around care Jane’s nurse provided allowed Jane, in her words, to be “Jane the friend, the mother, and wife… not just the breast cancer patient”.^[4]

It was a realisation of the empowering difference just one person can make, a difference, however, not necessarily available to everyone.

It sparked a vision of hope from one family to others; what if everyone with breast cancer, no matter their background or where they lived, could be supported through the upheavals of diagnosis? What if no-one was left to feel alone whilst navigating the complexities of treatment?

And so was founded the McGrath Foundation, an endeavour aimed not only at raising awareness of breast cancer, but also at activating the compassion, energy, and generosity of the community to drive tangible and meaningful impact through the funding and placement of breast care nurses.

To say that Jane’s vision has been embraced is an understatement.

When Jane and Glenn began the Foundation, their hope was that at least one family could be helped. Today, some 161,000 people and their families have been supported.^[5]

At the time of Jane’s passing in 2008, there were four fully funded McGrath Foundation Breast Care nurses.^[6] Last year marked the placement of the 250^th.^[7]

Volunteers, fundraisers, and corporate partners have rallied to turn towns, communities, and stadiums pink—raising awareness and bringing people together.

Being there on Jane McGrath Day at the SCG Test—as I have often had the privilege—is a spine-tingling experience… to see the swathes of pink, to hear at the Jane McGrath High Tea the countless moving stories of the incredible impact McGrath Breast Care Nurses have had on people’s lives, to witness the outpouring of generosity embracing the opportunity not only to show support but also, importantly, make that support real.

During this year’s Pink Test, it was announced that the McGrath Foundation was extending its support beyond breast cancer to all types of cancer. More than $9 million was raised in just a few days—the largest total to date at a Pink Test.

Of course, none of this would have happened without the dedication of all in the McGrath Foundation family.

To Glenn and his family; to Tracy,^[8] who has been right there from the start and whose tireless work is fulfilment of a promise made to her best friend^[9]; to John^[10] and members of the McGrath Foundation Board past and present; to Holly^[11] and the executive team… the warmest of congratulations on the iconic legacy you have helped nurture and build.

To all the McGrath Cancer Care Nurses, from the very first in 2005 to the 302^nd today^[12]… what you do day in, day out, your expert care and vital, sustaining compassion, across Australia in regional, rural, and metropolitan areas, is nothing short of inspirational.

To the McGrath Foundation friends, supporters, partners, and volunteers: without your generosity—in time, resources, and dollars in funding—none of this would be possible.

Together, your efforts have brought, and will continue to bring, for as long as it is needed, lifechanging support to the lives of so many.

And for that, I offer heartfelt of thanks.

To the McGrath Foundation!

[1] The Hon. Thomas George, former Member of the NSW Legislative Assembly

[2] Mr Glenn McGrath AO, President and Director, McGrath Foundation

[3] Professor Nirmala Pathmanathan, Westmead Breast Cancer Institute; Professor John Boyages AM, Radiation Oncologist, Integrated Cancer Centre Sydney Adventist Hospital; Adjunct Professor Christopher Steer, Albury Wodonga Regional Cancer Centre

[4] Quoted in ‘The Story of Jane McGrath’, McGrath Foundation website, available here

[5] Information provided by McGrath Foundation.

[6] ‘McGrath’s Last Wish Coming True’, The Western Australian online, 22 June 2010, available here; Robyn Foyster, ‘Tracy Bevan’s Moving Story About Her Best Friend Jane McGrath’, 6 January 2022, The Carousel online, available here; ‘Jane McGrath’s Inspiring Mission to Find Breast Cancer Cure’, Sixty Minutes, 2015, video available here

[7] Breast Cancer Network Australia Facebook post, 1 January 2025, available here

[8] Ms Tracy Bevan, Ambassador and Director, McGrath Foundation

[9] Robyn Foyster, ‘Tracy Bevan’s Moving Story About Her Best Friend Jane McGrath’, 6 January 2022, The Carousel online, available here

[10] Mr John C Conde, Chair, McGrath Foundation

[11] Ms Holly Masters, CEO, McGrath Foundation

[12] Information supplied by McGrath Foundation