King of kindness earns King’s Birthday honour

Richard Harry has been the face of prostate cancer in the Limestone Coast for more than a decade, turning his own 2010 diagnosis into a lifeline for other men and their families in the community through the Limestone Coast Prostate Support Group.

The hard working volunteer, who has spearheaded not just the local support group but services in the region for prostate cancer patients, including fundraising for a now installed transperineal biopsy machine and successfully campaigning for a specialist prostate nurse, has added another accolade to his growing resume – an Order of Australia.

The unexpected and humbling honour adds to his 2020 Max Gardner Award for Distinguished Service – an award presented annually to individual members of the prostate cancer network who have made an outstanding and significant contribution to reducing the impact of prostate cancer on Australian men, their partners, and families.

And it is his work in this space that saw him capture the King’s Birthday honour.

Prostate Cancer Foundation Association (PCFA) Chairman Adjunct Associate Professor Steve Callister had no trouble articulating the value Richard has brought to the space.

“He is a truly remarkable figure in the Australian prostate cancer community, dedicating many hundreds of hours of service to other men and families impacted by the disease and raising awareness to help us defeat it,” Assoc. Prof. Callister said. “I thank him for his voluntary service and contribution. His tireless advocacy has changed many lives for the better.”

PCFA CEO, Professor Jeff Dunn AO has also described the former support group chair as an inspiration to men and families impacted by the disease.

“Over many years he has served as a champion of prostate cancer awareness within his community, ensuring that men and their partners do not have to walk the journey of prostate cancer alone,” Prof. Dunn said. “He has played a vital role in providing men and their families with information, comfort, and support, calling on his own personal experience to make a difference in the lives of others.”

Testimonials are never hard to obtain and are all centred on Richard’s availability, willingness to help and compassionate approach to each individual and their support network.

John Hill was one Mount Gambier based prostate cancer patient who found the group, in general, and Richard, in particular, a key part of his cancer journey.

“We just catch up and talk,” John said. “When you learn there are other people that are battling what you are battling and in some cases what they are facing is much tougher, it makes you thankful and is a great support. I have so much gratitude for group coordinator Richard Harry, who doesn’t just facilitate the meetings with guest speakers and the coffee mornings but also drives improved treatment and support for prostate cancer sufferers throughout the Limestone Coast.”

And as important as the personal touch has been, so has his willingness to roll up his sleeves and get things done through fundraising and voracious campaigning.

His willingness to form partnerships with organisations including the Male Bag Foundation and local government, raising $198,000 for the purchase of the transperineal biopsy machine to be used in this region by visiting urologists so that men from the South East don’t have to leave their families and local support and work to travel to Adelaide or Melbourne for testing, is just one example of his determination to make things better.

“It is done as day surgery so a light anaesthesia is required reducing pain compared to the old method,” Mr Harry said. “Done locally there is no travelling so less time lost from employment, no accommodation away from home required, saving considerable costs. A man having to have a prostate biopsy has the prospect of cancer hanging over his head, so having the biopsy done locally he has his family and friends there to help him in his journey. With more samples taken from the prostate the urologist is also able to more accurately diagnose and treat the problem.”

He has also worked closely with the Mount Gambier Racing Club for more than five years and has assisted in arranging the Prostate Cancer dinners at the Gold Cup meetings, raising more than $20,000 which has been sent directly to PCFA.

Securing a .5 (FTE) prostate nurse for the Limestone Coast as part of the Australian Government’s Prostate Cancer Nurses Program will also be one of Richard’s most enduring legacies.

“It is wonderful to get that appointment – it is a good start,” Richard said, when Tracy Bryant started in the role. “It is a similar style role to a breast care nurse. It is about that support and providing information. When a guy goes to his urologist and gets the cancer diagnosis he gets a heap of options available as a patient and you come back the next week and tell him what treatment you are going to do. You basically have to make your decision from a book. Having access to a prostate nurse means they can go through those different types of treatments and get a full run down of the expected outcomes. The other side of it, is when you get the diagnosis of the Big C, to have someone to talk to, to provide you with support and put you in touch with where you can get help, is absolutely magic.”

Richard has always been one to share the credit when service improvements including the specialist nurse and the biopsy machine come to fruition.

“All in all it is hoped that with the machine and a prostate specialist nurse in the region and the provision of radiation treatment in the foreseeable future, the Limestone Coast will become a cancer treatment hub,” Mr Harry said. “It must also be remembered that this project would not have come to fruition without the huge input of the Mount Gambier hospital especially Paul Bullen and his team.”

TESTIMONIALS (from Limestone Coast Prostate Cancer Support Group members)

“Always being available to meet with or discuss needs of those impacted by prostate cancer.”

“He shows he cares and is always ready to give.”

“During COVID, Richard sent weekly messages to all members of the support Group, encouraging us with life.”

“I was encouraged to join the group. The best decision I ever made. Richard took me under his wing and helped me through the decision-making process. I have since learned that he has helped many men in similar circumstances and as prostate cancer affects the whole family, Richard’s wife Heather has assisted my wife, Sharon.

“In working closely with Richard over the last decade I have come to admire him in his tireless efforts to ensure men from Mount Gambier and the South East of South Australia have the information they require and support they need to walk through the journey of treatment for Prostate Cancer.”

“If anyone deserves recognition for his tireless efforts, Richard does.”