Child cancer survivor and Aquinas College student Tremane Baxter-Edwards is a remarkable young man, so remarkable his dream of becoming the first Indigenous Prime Minister of Australia might even come true.
But Tremane is also the first to admit that he wouldn’t have beaten his stage three intra-abdominal Burkitt’s lymphoma, a gut-wrenching type of cancer that he was diagnosed with at the age of two, without the doctors and nurses at Perth Children’s Hospital.
Speaking at Telethon’s Beneficiary Breakfast Giving Ceremony at Crown Perth on Friday, the Year 12 Aquinas student said he would not have been able to get through the gruelling treatment without the support of his family and the healthcare workers that were always by his side.
“The lymph nodes in my stomach had aggressive cancer but they threw everything at it and I was just so fortunate for my doctors at the time,” he said.
“One particular lady, who I’ve been very fond of until today is Nurse Kerrie in the oncology ward at PCH. She is a sensational woman and she has known me for the last 15 years.”
There wasn’t a dry eye in the room as Tremane paid tribute to Nurse Kerrie.
But the tears welling in people’s eyes turned into all-out sobbing when it was revealed paediatric oncology survivorship nurse Kerrie Graham, or Nurse Kerrie to Tremane, was sitting in the front row at the breakfast ready to surprise him.
Kerrie Graham and cancer survivor Tremane Baxter-Edwards. Credit: Ian Munro/The West Australian
Tremane broke down in tears on stage and gave Nurse Kerrie a huge hug once she came on stage, intermittently reaching out to grab her hand in awe.
Ms Graham, who helps children keep on top of rest of life care once they are in remission, said she was inspired by cancer survivors like Tremane.
“All childhood cancer survivors are amazing humans and they inspire me every day and they’re brave and they’re resilient,” she said.
“They have a maturity that is sort of beyond their years a lot of the time and it just makes me very happy to be able to be here and see this beautiful young man.”
Tremane’s cancer journey has inspired him to give back, which he is already doing as a Youth Parliamentarian and through two Commonwealth Advisory boards.
Kerrie Graham and cancer survivor Tremane Baxter-Edwards. Credit: Ian Munro/The West Australian
He said his goal was to become the first Indigenous Prime Minister.
“The drive has been my cancer journey and many other factors. I’m definitely a firm believer in giving back and so I’ll spend my time in that area,” he said.
Tremane’s journey was one of many inspiring stories attendees heard at the Giving Ceremony breakfast to celebrate the 136 beneficiaries of Telethon 2023.
A record-breaking total of $77.5 million raised at last year’s event will help deliver 1657 pieces of equipment and 276 grants to support children across the State.
Representatives from all of the beneficiaries attended the event at Crown Perth alongside dignitaries including Premier Roger Cook and Telethon chairman Richard Goyder AO.
Emily Houston, Harrison Carthew, Connor Barrett, and Sophia Marshall also made their final appearance as Little Telethon Stars telling everyone they were now a “family”.
Jessica Mauboy pictured with the telethon kids. Credit: Ian Munro/The West Australian
The North Cottesloe Primary School choir kicked off the morning singing alongside musical sensation Jessica Mauboy.
“I have been to many Telethons and to witness what it does and the power of amazing people coming together to bring light to these families, it brings such a huge power to everyone,” she said.
The crowd heard from charities that are working to help vulnerable children including the WA Football Commission’s Starkick Program, which is a unique West Australian All Abilities football program for children with disabilities.
For Starkick founder Rob Geersen it was seeing his own son, Brad not be able to participate after he suffered a brain injury from meningitis.
“For Brad there was a lot of therapy and rehab but there wasn’t much else outside of that and that’s when the idea of Starkick was born to provide somewhere where all kids can play regardless of their challenges,” he said.
“From that simple thought bubble, this dad stands here very proud and grateful that Telethon believed in this little idea as much as we did.
“To see Brad with his teammates, having a laugh, enjoying a sausage sizzle as a father that just fills me with joy and it hasn’t been the easiest ride but I count myself lucky in so many ways.”
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese made a special appearance via video link to thank all of those who donated.
Telethon Giving Ceremony Beneficiary Breakfast Event at Crown. Ian Munro Credit: Ian Munro/The West Australian
“Telethon changes lives for the better. We see that today through the beneficiaries getting their share of the generosity of last year’s donations including some of the bravest young Australians I ever had the privilege to meet,” he said.
“Long may Telethon represent the best of the West.”
Premier Roger Cook said Telethon was as West Australian as quokka selfies.
“This has to be one of the best parts because we get to see where the funding goes. This is where we put the rubber on the road. We get to see the real difference that it makes to a lot of local people,” he said.
“That’s the aim of all this, in the short term helping families make the best of a bad situation and then the long term funding research that prevents future generations experiencing various illnesses.
“That’s why Telethon continues to be so successful even after almost 60 years. It’s a quintessentially West Australian institute.”
Telethon chairman Richard Goyder AO said the breadth of the impactful work Telethon’s beneficiaries deliver was enabled by the generosity of the WA community.
“To each person who played a role, whether through giving, participation, volunteering or sheer enthusiasm, on behalf of the Telethon Trustees we extend our heartfelt gratitude,” he said.
“Together, we raised funds to provide vital services and programs, support, and purchase equipment for sick and vulnerable children.
“Thank you for creating a better and brighter future for WA kids, for providing hope and for proving time and time again that together we can make the impossible possible.”
More than $600 million has been raised at Telethon since its inception in 1968. This year’s Telethon fundraising extravaganza will be held on October 19 and 20 at RAC Arena.
First published by The West Australian.