Lisa Wilkinson’s tearful message to ‘very dear friend’ on The Project

The Project’s Lisa Wilkinson was overwhelmed with emotion as she delivered a moving message to a “very dear friend” of the show.

Lisa Wilkinson has fought back tears on The Project as she delivered an emotional message to “very dear friend” of the show, Professor Mary-Louise McLaws, following news she is battling a brain tumour.

The epidemiologist, who works for both the University of New South Wales (UNSW) and the World Health Organisation (WHO), has regularly appeared on Ten’s current affairs program throughout the pandemic.

At the end of Sunday night’s show, Wilkinson addressed the news about Prof McLaws’ diagnosis.

“Before we go this evening, we wanted to take a moment to send our love to a very dear friend of the show, epidemiologist Mary-Louise McLaws,” she said.

“Yesterday, Mary-Louise revealed that after suffering a severe headache on Thursday, she was diagnosed with a brain tumour. Understandably, she’s taking a month’s leave from her roles with the University of New South Wales and the WHO to be with her family.”

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Lisa Wilkinson fought to hold back tears.

The presenter then appeared to become choked up with emotion as she addressed Prof McLaws directly.

“Mary-Louise, I think it’s fair to say that all of us here at The Project were heartbroken to hear the news. In these troubled times, your calm, considered information and advice has been invaluable to millions of Australians across the country and we want to thank you so much for being so generous with your knowledge, your time and we wish you and your beautiful family all the strength in the world at this difficult time.

“Just make sure you put that wonderful husband of yours, aka the pool boy, to good work.”

Everyone at #TheProjectTV sends our best wishes to epidemiologist Professor @MarylouiseMcla1. We want to thank you so much for being so generous with your knowledge, and we wish you and your family all the strength in the world at this difficult time.#TheProjectTVpic.twitter.com/ywRh6ByMtz

— The Project (@theprojecttv) January 16, 2022

Fellow Project panellist Susie Youssef also appeared emotional as she added: “That’s beautifully said Lisa, and we all send our love out to Mary-Louise McLaws. This show is lucky to have such extraordinary guests and experts, we’re so grateful, and during a time when we needed a voice of reason and such a beautiful sense of humour.”

Youssef finished up: “We will forever be indebted to you, Mary-Louise McLaws, we love you so much.”

Youssef was also emotional as she spoke of Prof McLaws.

Over the weekend, the professor of epidemiology revealed she had been experiencing severe headaches, which led to a diagnosis of a brain tumour.

After a severe headache Thursday, I was diagnosed with a brain tumour. I will now be on a month's sick leave from UNSW and WHO. Thank you media for helping me spread knowledge. Now it is time with my family.
Best wishes to you all.

— Mary-Louise McLaws (@MarylouiseMcla1) January 15, 2022

As a result, Prof McLaws said she would be taking one month of sick leave from UNSW and WHO where she works as an adviser on their health emergencies, and infection prevention and control response to Covid-19.

“After a severe headache Thursday, I was diagnosed with a brain tumour,” she tweeted on Saturday afternoon.

“I will now be on a month’s sick leave from UNSW and WHO. Thank you media for helping me spread knowledge. Now it is time with my family.”

Throughout the pandemic, Prof McLaws has been a familiar face for Australians seeking health advice about Covid-19.

The Sydney-based epidemiologist often took a critical view of the Government’s management of the pandemic and regularly called for tightened restrictions in order to curb infections.

Most recently, she called for the quick and free distribution of rapid antigen tests and said it was a key reason why the Government’s “outbreak management has failed”.