St Vincent’s Hospital Sydney has marked a remarkable milestone: the 50th anniversary of Australia’s very first bone marrow transplant.

The commemoration began with Associate Professor Anthony Dodds, who reflected on that groundbreaking moment in 1975 when the first bone marrow transplant was performed. He paid tribute to the extraordinary teamwork and donor generosity that made it possible.

A panel discussion followed, introduced by Dr Sam Milliken and featuring Professor John Moore, Dr Barbara Withers, and Dr Jennifer Massey. Together, they explored the evolution of treatment over the past five decades, including today’s pioneering advances such as CAR-T cell therapy. Guests also heard from patients whose lives have been transformed by transplant, a powerful reminder of the impact of decades of research and the dedication of exceptional clinicians.

The event was filled with gratitude and pride as the St Vincent’s team, along with the donors and supporters who make their work possible, were recognised. This included heartfelt thanks to the Arrow Foundation.

Among the most memorable moments for us was reconnecting with long-time Arrow supporters, including Colleena Presnell, who has long served the stem cell transplant community of St Vincent’s Hospital with regular visits to patients and staff through her “Gift of Friendship” program. We also had the pleasure of catching up with Lisa Cuthbertson and Anthony Ciccia, two of the earliest bone marrow transplant recipients in Australia. Both were thrilled to meet and discover they had undergone their procedures just a year apart, in 1984 and 1985, and are now among the longest surviving transplant recipients in the country.

As we celebrate this extraordinary history of stem cell transplants, we also look to the future with hope—for another 50 years of innovation, lives changed, and continued progress. We thank St Vincents Hospital Sydney for its pioneering work and enduring legacy, and we extend our appreciation to our community of supporters who have held a long association with St Vincents Hospital and their remarkable work.