'I will always love you': Red Symons' tribute to late son Samuel

Former Skyhooks and Hey Hey It's Saturday star Red Symons has paid tribute to his late son in a touching eulogy delivered on radio on Thursday.

Samuel Symons, 27, died two weeks ago after the cancer he was diagnosed with when he was four years old returned. He has been remembered as a "kind, witty and smart" man who worked tirelessly to help other young people living with cancer.

On Thursday, Symons returned to Neil Mitchell's radio show after two weeks away from the microphone. The former ABC presenter told 3AW listeners he would read out a brief tribute given eulogies aren't usually part of Greek Orthodox funeral.

"Samuel, I have always loved you," he said. "I will always love you. I shall always have you."

The 69-year-old then said his son had lived a "remarkable" life despite multiple bouts of intense cancer treatments.

"At four years old, you sort of come to terms with the fact he's not going to be here," he said. "Twenty years later, he's got a master's degree. He's the most qualified person in the family!

"I used to have an ironic observation which is simply a truth: there is no better place to get sick than Melbourne, Australia. [Samuel] is living – non-living – evidence of that. If he had what he had 50 years earlier, he wouldn't have lasted past four."

Samuel Symons, left, with his parents at a film premiere in 2011. Credit: Morganna Magee

Victorian Health Minister Jill Hennessy awarded Samuel an Outstanding Achievement by a Young Volunteer award earlier this year for his work improving the daily lives of young people with cancer. The 27-year-old was on Peter Mac's advisory committee for two years and helped the hospital design its Melbourne Youth Cancer Centre.

Symons said giving back to the community was part of his son's character.

"I crossed a line with Samuel which, in some culture, is something you don't do," he said. "I asked him how you feel about death. This was when death was looming two or three weeks before he died.

"He said, I don't worry about death because it's been part of my life. I think that was the nature of his involvement with Peter Mac and the hospital. He was accustomed to it and he was comfortable there. He knew what to do and what they would do and, once again, I thank the professors and the doctors and the nurses."

Earlier this month, Samuel's mother, Elly Symons, said the strength her son displayed over the years was "simply inspirational".

"His dignified humanity in the face of adversity was a lesson to us all," she said. "Rather than complain, he accepted his illnesses with humour, dignity and grace and continued to amaze us by achieving the unachievable."

Ms Hennessy also paid tribute, saying Samuel never once wavered when it came to making the lives of others just that little bit easier.

"He was a dedicated and inspirational volunteer," she said. "He was funny, kind, witty and smart. He'll be deeply missed and my heart goes out to his family and friends."