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MATT DOWN, NOT OUT

A note from The Australian’s Matt Price, sent to News Ltd colleagues:

A couple of weeks back I returned from Canberra with low energy levels. Then last week - and this is perverse - I noticed my left side slightly awry writing a story on Chris Mainwaring. A trip to the GP and a CT scan proved devastating. I have several brain tumours and will undergo exploratory brain surgery on Wednesday.

There is no sugar coating this - it’s dangerous and serious. Telling the three kids has been horrific. I am distraught at the prospect of introducing cancer into their innocent teenage lives. We are entering a long dark tunnel with no guarantees.

Best of luck to Matt, his wife and their children.

Posted by Tim B. on 10/07/2007 at 10:52 PM

  1. God preserve him, and best of luck in this truly difficult time.

    Posted by paco on 2007 10 07 at 10:58 PM • permalink

  2. Always like Matt when he’s on Insiders - what a crap sandwich that news is.  I hope he’s better soon.  Best wishes to Matt & his family.

    Posted by Mr Hackenbacker on 2007 10 07 at 11:04 PM • permalink

  3. This is awful news. Matt is one of the top 4 or 5 columnists in the country, easy, and a fair and decent bloke to boot.

    All the very best for him and his family.

    Posted by Kobaal on 2007 10 07 at 11:07 PM • permalink

  4. Good luck Matt, I can understand your fear.

    Posted by Peter W on 2007 10 07 at 11:10 PM • permalink

  5. Come on Matt. Hang in there mate.
    The politicians need your mickey take and we need you to get stuck into them again ASAP.

    Posted by Bonmot on 2007 10 07 at 11:21 PM • permalink

  6. I agree, he is one of the best columnists in the country and I always enjoy reading his work- good luck mate.

    Posted by Mattofact on 2007 10 07 at 11:26 PM • permalink

  7. Best of luck, Matt.  And following a meme common on another blog I frequent, cancer can f**k off.

    Posted by The_Real_JeffS on 2007 10 07 at 11:27 PM • permalink

  8. Best of luck to you, Matt.
    You’ll be in my thoughts.

    Posted by kae on 2007 10 07 at 11:30 PM • permalink

  9. How very,very sad. Cancer is an unwelcome intruder into nearly everyone’s life in one way or another. So much worse when it has such a direct impact on a young man with a young family.

    Posted by SandiM on 2007 10 07 at 11:35 PM • permalink

  10. Best wishes Matt for the time ahead and courage to you and your family.

    Posted by carpefraise on 2007 10 07 at 11:36 PM • permalink

  11. One of the few decent, hard-working, intelligent, funny and honest journos in the Press Gallery.

    Get better!

    Posted by Apparatchik on 2007 10 07 at 11:50 PM • permalink

  12. Best of luck Matt to both you and your family.

    Posted by Nic on 2007 10 07 at 11:50 PM • permalink

  13. Glycomic Institute
    here on the Coast is a leader in research on the way cancer cells use the sugar molecules protruding from a healthy cell to attack it.

    Amazingly, it is extremely rare for a cell to be attacked by any other means, by any other disease / virus etc.  Bird flu is no exception.

    So all these nasty viruses and cancer cells, use the sugar (carby) molecules as their gateway into the normal healthy cell.  Blocking and protecting the sugar molecules has already helped find cures, and could be the magic cure for many more.

    What prompted this was Matt’s comment on “There is no sugar coating this” in relating his sad circumstances to his children.  How true may be these words to his situation in this respect as well.

    Good luck Matt.  Here’s hoping they have found the cancer in time for you to be cured.

    Posted by peter m on 2007 10 07 at 11:53 PM • permalink

  14. Good luck, Matt. May you get to enjoy many more Dylan concerts and long may your fair and balanced columns continue to annoy and humour me.

    Posted by Infidel Tiger on 2007 10 07 at 11:57 PM • permalink

  15. Deepest sympathies Matt and I wish you to be strong & healthy soon. May you have the strength to carry on and persevere during this difficult time.

    Posted by The Best Infidel on 2007 10 08 at 12:04 AM • permalink

  16. Good luck Matt.

    One of the few decent, hard-working, intelligent, funny and honest journos in the Press Gallery.

    Hear, hear.

    Posted by lingus4 on 2007 10 08 at 12:06 AM • permalink

  17. My sympathies to you, Matt and your family. Fight through.

    Posted by SwinishCapitalist on 2007 10 08 at 12:19 AM • permalink

  18. This is terrible news. The kind of bloke you always felt that, even if you didn’t agree, you could have an honest disagreement with.

    Posted by Garth on 2007 10 08 at 12:22 AM • permalink

  19. Best of luck to Matt. If he has “several” tumors, I can’t help wondering if they are metastases from a primary source… but I am sure his surgeons will figure that out for themselves.
    Good thoughts heading your way, Matt.

    Posted by Dr Alice on 2007 10 08 at 12:24 AM • permalink

  20. Good luck is about all that can be said.

    Posted by thefrollickingmole on 2007 10 08 at 12:29 AM • permalink

  21. God’s speed, Matt.

    Posted by ice on 2007 10 08 at 12:35 AM • permalink

  22. Matt,

    Do not go gentle into that good night,

    Thou must rage against the dying of the light.

    Posted by Pogria on 2007 10 08 at 12:36 AM • permalink

  23. good luck Matt

    ot - some good news on warmening from anu via crikey

    Posted by KK on 2007 10 08 at 12:39 AM • permalink

  24. That is terrible news.  Matt: you have no choice, mate.  You have to stick around, so you can see how wrong you were about Rudd winning in ‘07.

    Posted by cuckoo on 2007 10 08 at 12:57 AM • permalink

  25. Australia can ill afford to lose any fairminded journalist like Matt.
    There are far too few of them, while the worst like Alan Ramsay, Lane and Adams chug on into their dotage.

    Posted by Barrie on 2007 10 08 at 01:10 AM • permalink

  26. That’s just shit. Matt Price is one of the few honest brokers. And a good read too.

    Get better soon!

    Posted by tortfeaser on 2007 10 08 at 01:24 AM • permalink

  27. May the Archangel Raphael accompany you along the way, and may we return to our homes in peace, joy, and health.


    :”“:”:’;;’;’;’;;;’;;’;’;’;’;’;
    1.618

    Posted by 1.618 on 2007 10 08 at 01:45 AM • permalink

  28. Wot Barrie said

    Posted by Pickles on 2007 10 08 at 01:53 AM • permalink

  29. What everybody’s said here and my best wishes as well.

    Posted by Skeeter on 2007 10 08 at 02:17 AM • permalink

  30. Good luck, Matt.

    Posted by Evil Pundit on 2007 10 08 at 02:24 AM • permalink

  31. Good luck, Matt. All Dockers supporters will be keeping you in their thoughts.

    Posted by Villeurbanne on 2007 10 08 at 02:33 AM • permalink

  32. Matt, I always enjoy your columns in the Australian, so here’s hoping you beat this thing and can keep writing them.

    Posted by morbo on 2007 10 08 at 02:41 AM • permalink

  33. Go Matt, with the support of a loving family you can beat anything.

    Posted by Howzat on 2007 10 08 at 02:45 AM • permalink

  34. This is horrible news.

    For quite a while Matt has been a frequent commentator of “matters political” on Richard Glover’s Drive Show on ABC Local Radio Sydney and was always good value - fair and balanced with only a twist of cynicism.

    I hope that you, Tim, will let him and his family know that they are in our thoughts at this time.

    Posted by Leftwing Anarcho Greenie on 2007 10 08 at 02:49 AM • permalink

  35. A good journo and a good bloke. I wish him every possible good fortune for the future.

    Posted by you bet on 2007 10 08 at 02:54 AM • permalink

  36. I feel like this is a bad time,but I just wanted to say hello.I have been reading this blog with great hilarity for some time.
    I now have been allowed the privilege of joining your company.
    All the best

    Posted by Hannibal on 2007 10 08 at 03:24 AM • permalink

  37. Very bad news, but Matt did not ignore the signs so I hope that it has been caught early. The earlier the better.

    Matt and his family are in my prayers.

    MarkL
    Canberra

    Posted by MarkL on 2007 10 08 at 03:29 AM • permalink

  38. that sucks.
    Get well soon, Matt.
    There might not be any “sugar coating,” but hope and optimism is important.

    Posted by daddy dave on 2007 10 08 at 04:02 AM • permalink

  39. “are important.” sorry.

    Posted by daddy dave on 2007 10 08 at 04:29 AM • permalink

  40. To quote from the Toyota commercials : “Bugger”.

    Posted by Zoe Brain on 2007 10 08 at 04:55 AM • permalink

  41. Terrible news.
    A daunting battle to be faced, but one that I am sure Matt will face with courage and determination.

    Posted by Pedro the Ignorant on 2007 10 08 at 05:07 AM • permalink

  42. Matt,

    All the best. You’ve worked hard over the past years, so take some time off, get some rest, and come back fighting fit and ready to give your opinion on whatever needs your opinion.

    Posted by Ash_ on 2007 10 08 at 05:20 AM • permalink

  43. Best wishes to Matt and his family. Australia needs balanced journos.

    Posted by Penguin on 2007 10 08 at 05:26 AM • permalink

  44. I see Fate, aka the Big Bitch, has lost none of her unfairness. Best wishes for you, Matt, during this most difficult time.

    And welcome to the blog, Hannibal. I’ll pass on the fava beans and chianti, if you don’t mind.

    Posted by Dminor on 2007 10 08 at 05:38 AM • permalink

  45. Good luck to Matt and his family. If moral support from the rest of Australia will help beat the thing then he’s assured of heaps from the many people who think he’s a good bloke.

    Posted by Jack Lacton on 2007 10 08 at 06:28 AM • permalink

  46. Matt,

    My prayers and thoughts go out to your partner, kids, for your speedy recovery and for the doctors that will be treating you .

    All the best and look forward to seeing you and Bolt go hammer and tongs on Insiders

    Posted by MannyC on 2007 10 08 at 06:37 AM • permalink

  47. Best wishes for him and his family.

    Posted by Mr. Bingley on 2007 10 08 at 06:38 AM • permalink

  48. Good luck and get well soon Matt, there are allot of people out here like me who have never met you but are sincerely keeping you and your family in their thoughts.

    Posted by Amos on 2007 10 08 at 07:15 AM • permalink

  49. Such rotten news to read, especially as another in my family is walking through the same tunnel.

    My prayers for Matt and his family, and all who are looking out for him at this time: may our Heavenly Father grant you courage, strength, wisdom and healing.

    Posted by saint on 2007 10 08 at 08:03 AM • permalink

  50. We all have the gift of life and at the very least, the free will to see it as we do, thank God.

    Not only that, we have an inner strength that we can call upon to push the boundaries of nature’s limitations… any old day, pretty much.

    But when crisis truly strikes there is a Holy Spirit we have inside of us, ready to help us take a firm hold of the control column, read off the instruments and keep doing the most important thing - fly the plane!

    Godspeed, Matt.

    Posted by splice on 2007 10 08 at 09:47 AM • permalink

  51. Damnable cancer.

    Good luck Matt.  Our prayers are with you and your family.

    Posted by Hucbald on 2007 10 08 at 10:27 AM • permalink

  52. All the best to Matt and his family. Like many others here, I have enjoyed reading his work and appreciated his straightforwardness and decency; his writings on the Dockers have often bought a chuckle.
    I’ll be praying for you, old boy.

    Posted by Simon Darkshade on 2007 10 08 at 01:43 PM • permalink

  53. That’s a crook hand to be sure Matt and further proof- if any were needed, that like Kamahl’s left appendage, many of the hands dealt us in life are neither right nor fair. I truly hope its not Aces and 8’s mate, and that you’ll be in there bluffing your way through for many more hands yet.

    We’ve not met, but like many here I guess I’m saddened by this sort of news about someone who appears, like the best exemplars of your craft, to allow a part of themselves to be revealed to their readers in every column they write. I suspect even those who regularly disagree find themselves liking the person they feel they recognise in your work.

    All the best to you and your family over the next little bit. I hope they find nothing in you more serious than a few splinters from that fence Imre reckons you’ve been perching on for years. Hope to see you back on it soon.

    Cheers

    Posted by lex luthor on 2007 10 08 at 08:34 PM • permalink

  54. Best wishes and prayers up for Matt and his family and friends.

    Posted by Grimmy on 2007 10 09 at 12:47 AM • permalink

  55. I’m sorry to hear that.  I hope everything turns out well. 

    Elizabeth
    Imperial Keeper

    Posted by Elizabeth Imperial Keeper on 2007 10 09 at 12:48 PM • permalink

  56. May God bless and keep you, Mr. Price.

    Posted by Kyda Sylvester on 2007 10 09 at 03:38 PM • permalink

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