8 September 2017

Canberra's Connie Johnson loses battle with cancer

| Jane Speechley
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Very sad news this evening, as we learn that much-loved Canberran and breast cancer campaigner Connie Johnson has lost her battle with cancer today.

Connie’s brother, well-known actor Samuel Johnson reported the sad news at around 7 pm on the Facebook page of Love Your Sister, the charity set up by the siblings to fund research into cancer.

“We lost Connie today. Or, as she asked me to say, she died of cancer today. It was so beautiful. We laughed, we cried, we sang stupid songs from our childhood to her, which she loved (mostly!). I read her so many village messages, which she relished. She went so richly, and with such grace. Trust me, she was genuinely cushioned by your love, till the end,” wrote Samuel in the touching post.

“I’m sad and sorry to be the one to tell you this, yet at the same time, as the Chief Custodian of my sister’s legacy, I also feel extremely grateful and proud.

“I’m off to cuddle the fam and warmly embrace an exquisite whisky, in memory of my sister, who did so bloody well, from start to finish. Thanks for everything, Connie Cottonsocks. It was my pleasure to be your Sammy Seal.

“Thank f**k for this village. See you on Connie’s tribute wall we built. xsammy,” he wrote.

The heartbreaking announcement comes less than 24 hours after Samuel also announced on the page that Connie had received the Order of Australia medal, presented to her bedside by the Governor-General, His Excellency General the Honourable Sir Peter Cosgrove AK MC (Retd).

The Order of Australia recognised Connie’s service to people with breast cancer.

In sharing her battle with the disease, Connie and her family touched the lives of many Canberrans – as demonstrated through the remarkable Big Heart project in May, which raised more than $5.6 million to find cancer research.

Connie’s family has asked anyone who has shared their journey to leave a message on the legacy wall at www.loveforconnie.org, so the family can hold on to the tributes forever.

Images courtesy of the Love Your Sister Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/loveyoursister.

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Thoughts and condolences to Connie’s partner, who seems to have requested total privacy throughout this sad journey.

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