Fay lives in the beautiful coastal town of Yeppoon in Central Queensland. Her life changed forever in 2014 when she lost her beloved husband Lyell, and the father of their three children Marc, Shania and Jakob, to melanoma. It was a shock diagnosis and Lyell passed away only nine weeks later.

Fay decided to join Speaker’s Hub after speaking at the 2019 Rockhampton Melanoma March and realising how, by telling Lyell’s story, she could increase awareness and motivate action in many people. To her Speaker’s Hub is a way to continue Lyell’s legacy and hopefully prevent other families having to endure the devastating impact of melanoma.

"It is rewarding to be part of Speaker's Hub, sharing our story and making a contribution towards the mission of zero deaths from melanoma."  

Just before Lyell was diagnosed Fay started working in the local Catholic Girls’ College uniform shop. It was her dream to work within a school, and in 2015 she was offered the position of Library Assistant, which she loves and knows Lyell would be so proud.

Fay volunteers as a Cheerleading coach at Aussie Cheer & Dance in Yeppoon. She enjoys travelling and looks forward to visiting the places in Australia that she and Lyell had planned to explore.

Fay's favourite quotes:

'"Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much." - Helen Keller

"God may have you in his arms but I will forever have you in my heart."

"Me and you against the world. Love you always and forever"

Lyell’s favourite song was The Dance by Garth Brooks. Little did we know how true those words would be for us.  As a family this is a very significant song to us and we see it as a tribute to Lyell. This line in particular: "I could have missed the pain but I'd of had to miss the dance."

The Dance – Garth Brooks

Looking back on the memory of
The dance we shared beneath the stars above
For a moment all the world was right
How could I have known you'd ever say goodbye
And now I'm glad I didn't know
The way it all would end the way it all would go
Our lives are better left to chance I could have missed the pain
But I'd have to miss the dance
Holding you I held everything
For a moment wasn't I the king
But if I'd only known how the king would fall
Hey who's to say you know I might have changed it all
And now I'm glad I didn't know
The way it all would end the way it all would go
Our lives are better left to chance I could have missed the pain
But I'd of had to miss the dance
Yes my life is better left to chance
I could have missed the pain but I'd of had to miss the dance