Kat Dunell organises Geelong Melanoma March

A Newtown firefighter is on a mission after her husband and the father of their three kids died after being diagnosed with melanoma.

Kat Dunell has organised the Melanoma March to happen in Geelong after her husband Brett Smith passed away in December. Picture: Brad Fleet

A Newtown mum is on a sun smart mission, triggered by the tragedy of losing her husband after he was diagnosed with melanoma.

Brett Smith, a carpenter and VCAL teacher, left behind widow Kat Dunell and their three kids, aged nine, 11 and 13, when he died aged 50 on December 29.

Although devastated to learn a lump on his scalp was melanoma in early 2016, Ms Dunell wasn’t shocked, given her late husband’s love of spending time in the sun surfing, working and socialising.

Cancer was found to have spread to his lymph nodes and later further cancerous lumps were found on his body.

He underwent several surgical procedures and endured severe side effects from a range of treatments including radiation and immunotherapy.

In 2021, a scan revealed cancer had spread to his spine and lungs, and then was found to be throughout his bones.

“When it metastasised, that was a real kick in the guts,” Ms Dunell said.

Steroids prescribed to Mr Smith induced a mental health episode where he behaved manic, Ms Dunell said.

“It was really hard to be around,” she said.

Ms Dunell said her husband was an “adventurous spirit” and creative, and he loved travelling and his kids.

Ms Dunell, a firefighter, said melanoma was a “cruel disease”.

Last year the cancer had spread to his liver, and Mr Smith had some last-ditch treatments which proved “futile”.

His health declined rapidly late last year and he was in severe pain.

Mr Smith spent his last Christmas at home, and died days later.

“The ripple effect of Brett’s premature passing on family and friends has been huge and will be ongoing for many years,” Ms Dunell said.

“For me, having come out the other side; all that anxiety and stress is gone, but it’s now replaced with other concerns being a single parent.

Brett Smith died in December after being diagnosed with melanoma. Picture: Supplied

“The impact on our children watching their dad go through this will last a lifetime.”

Mr Smith apologised to his wife for being diagnosed with melanoma, which could have been prevented.

Ms Dunell feels frustrated when she sees people ignoring sun protection.

“It’s that thing of ‘it won’t happen to me’ and then it comes back and bites you in the arse when you’ve got three children,” she said.

“Stop glamorising having a tan.

“I want people to realise how dangerous it is.”

Australia has the highest melanoma rates in the world, with one person diagnosed every 30 minutes and one person dying from the disease every six hours.

It is the most common cancer affecting 20-39 year old Australians.

Following her husband’s death Ms Dunell set up a fundraising tribute page for the Melanoma Institute Australia, which has raised more than $27,000.

Ms Dunell is calling on locals to join the institute’s 2023 Melanoma March campaign to support the psychological health and wellbeing of Australians living with advanced cancer, and to help tackle tanning culture.

She has organised the inaugural Geelong event, which will be held at Eastern Park at 3pm on Saturday.

Visit geelong.melanomamarch.org.au for more information and to register.

Originally published as Kat Dunell organises Geelong Melanoma March