Gift to help with the hope of life for others

A generous donation of $50,000 to the University of Newcastle’s Faculty of Health will help with continuing research into melanoma.

The donation has been given by the Parsons family of Newcastle in memory of Dallas Parsons who passed away as a result of melanoma in 2003 at the age of 56.

At a reception held at the University, the money was granted to Associate Professor Darren Shafren to be used in his ground-breaking work in melanoma research.

Dallas Parsons was a prominent and popular agronomist from the Moree area, as well known for his larger than life personality as for his expertise in broadacre farming. He was born in the Newcastle suburb of Waratah in 1947, graduated from Jesmond High School and then from the Hawkesbury Agricultural College. Ironically, he was committed to melanoma research and had been part of a campaign in the 1980’s to make people aware of its threat, long before he was diagnosed with it himself. He is survived by his mother, Delma Parsons, brother Jeff, sister Janice, brother-in-law, John, nieces Tina, Lisa and Carmel, nephew Nathan and numerous great nieces and nephews.

The bequest will be used towards research equipment that allows pre-screening of tissue samples from subjects with late-stage melanoma, for susceptibility to the destruction by the common cold virus, coxsackie virus A21.

Darren’s laboratory is continuing research into the use of this relatively harmless respiratory virus for the targeted killing of malignant melanoma cells. Small animal trials have shown encouraging results and the research group is now focusing their attention on the coxsackie virus A21 in a clinical setting.

Associate Professor Shafren said he is pleased and honoured to accept the donation from the Parsons Family. “This is a very generous gesture. The Parsons family have honoured Dallas’ long-term commitment to melanoma research and have graciously made these funds available to purchase vital research equipment. I am very grateful to them for their generosity,” Darren said.

Media contact: Associate Professor Darren Shafren can be contacted for interview by telephoning 4923 6158

A PHOTOGRAPH OF THE PRESENTATION IS AVAILABLE ON REQUEST.