John Singleton: What’s this ‘Kill Charlie’ obsession all about?

Why Charlie Teo??? Too flamboyant? Too confident? Chinese? It can’t be the $50 million he has raised for brain cancer research. It can’t be the lives he has saved, writes John Singleton.

I first met Charlie Teo when my godson returned from a sabbatical in California USA.

He had an inoperable and malignant brain tumour with a prognosis in months not years.

I had heard of Charlie and rang his office at Prince of Wales Hospital.

Amazingly, Charlie answered his own phone and agreed to meet me and my godson that day.

Gavin was in terrible shape. Charlie was professional, tough but reassuring: “I can’t cure you Gav but I reckon I can give you years not months. But it’ll be tough.”

Gavin needed the time, as his father, a mountain of a man with massive physical and intellectual strength, had been my mate since we left school.

He was a hard street fighter and launched KFC and Pizza Hut in Australia.

An uncompromising rugby flanker he was feared by many. Tragically, it didn’t stop him committing suicide.

After the usual “why why why” ritual, Gavin decided to make his dad’s death worth something.

Neurosurgeon Charlie Teo arriving at the Health Care Complaints Commission Professional Standards Committee Inquiry in Sydney this week. Picture: Tim Hunter

With his ad agency mates he created RUOK day. It took off in Year 1.

Gavin, his majestic wife Maryanne, his two sons Van and Gus and daughter Josie proudly watched as Gav launched RUOK day. His job was done. Within a short period, he died.

Charlie heard and came to the service, where tears rolled down his cheek.

He said: “That bloke would’ve saved far more lives than me. I wasn’t good enough to save him.”

But it wasn’t over. Gav’s son Gus started to complain of “funny vision”. His co-ordination became hopeless. Gus had the same brain cancer as his late father.

Again we rang Charlie and again he rang back in minutes. Asked how Maryanne and the kids were settling down. I cut to the headline.

Gus, Van, Maryanne, Josie and Gavin Larkin at their Coogee home, before brain cancer claimed Gavin then Gus.

I met and passed him all the scans and the other medical opinions. They were all the same, “no hope”.

Charlie agreed but said: “If you can cop a wonky eye I reckon I can get Gus a few years.”

And he did.

Gus became the most popular kid at Bronte public. And lucky for me his favourite place became my farm (or “our farm” as Gus would politely correct me).

He had the quirkiest, funniest and most unusual stories — most fantasy, but which ones were real and which ones weren’t was hard to tell.

Gus loved to sleep with me and talk about his dad. From winning tries to superhero stories. Always starring his dad “Baz”.

He left us one night and when his mum reached home Charlie was sitting on their front veranda. He was shaken. A mess of a man.

Maryanne Larkin, Josie Larkin and Maureen Vaughn — the wife, daughter and mother of RUOK founder Gavin. Picture: Richard Dobson

Gus had given all of Bronte public and all his mates at the farm their happiest times. The service was a mixture of sobs, mad laughter and wailing.

I sat at the back of the school hall with Charlie sobbing. I should’ve done better. I’ve got to do better. He could not be consoled.

But he had given Gav the time to create and launch RUOK day. He had given Gus to us and the world for years that none of us will ever forget. Teo’s costs … still zip. NOTHING.

That was maybe 10 years ago. Maybe he’s this new cold-hearted, $$$ hungry, blood-happy Charlie who I read about. I don’t think so.

Charlie Teo, pictured with his fiance Traci Griffiths behind him, is fighting for his career. Picture: Tim Hunter

A couple of years ago the great old Newtown football club was hit with a double tragedy.

Our two halves from the ‘70s and early ‘80s both received a terminal cancer diagnosis. Famed tough guy Tom Raudonikis and the more skilful goal kicking freak Ken Wilson.

Again. Call Charlie. But he was in Singapore. I left a message. This time Charlie didn’t call back for 15 mins.

He spoke to the specialists involved with each bloke. He called them both. They were happy and positive calls. He could do nothing more. He was compassionate but firm.

At least they’d both had a second opinion. Not one they wanted to hear — but league teaches men how to cop it. They both left us but in their last days phoned Charlie to thank him for all the hope he had given them. Their surgeons thanked him too.

League legend Tom Raudonikis died in 2021 and called Charlie Teo in his final days to thank him for giving his honest second opinion on his cancer.

So what is this “Kill Charlie” obsession about? Is it about Charlie giving his unfettered and often contrary opinion on any cancer case when asked?

Because too often Charlie’s opinion was and continues to be materially different to the first. And too often he is right and the first doctor is wrong. No one hates being told they are wrong more than doctors. In my opinion, Charlie is now fighting for his career.

My opinion, after many conversations with medical practitioners in all fields, is that many surgeons loathe going out on a limb to support their colleagues lest they be next.

I also found many very reputable doctors treat patients based on the established Australasian/Melbourne old school mentality, least I say “designed for GPS school graduates”.

A motorcycle-riding bikie doctor who auctions off viewing himself operating does not quite fit the old school thinking.

I’m not exaggerating. Ask your own doctor. If they don’t quickly change the subject, you will find their petty outlook and opinion of Teo one of disgust. And at worst you will find opinions nearing revulsion, as I have.

Cancer is our scariest killer … diagnosis-chemotherapy-surgery-death.

Charlie Teo has and continues to challenge the inevitable death outcome to one of some hope and, in my life, he has done that twice. He delivered.

In the case of my friend Ken Wilson, there was no hope and so it was told.

Why then why Charlie??? Too flamboyant? Too confident? Chinese?

It can’t be the $50 million Charlie has already raised for brain cancer research. It can’t be the lives he has saved.

My answer, I don’t know, but if there’s someone out there who does, they will be answering to the whole of Australia. Heck, the whole world.