The star is determined to find a cure for brain cancer.

Ten years ago, an impassioned Carrie Bickmore stepped on stage at the 2015 TV Week Logie Awards and quietly launched a revolution.

Now, she’s been named the 2026 Victorian of the Year.

The radio host was given the honour at the  Australian of the Year awards ceremony on November 6, for her contributions and commitment to brain cancer awareness and research.

After losing her late husband, Greg Lange, to brain cancer in 2010, she started her charity Beanies 4 Brain Cancer. The foundation also helps fund Victoria’s Brain Cancer Centre research facility.

Since then, she has sold more than 700,000 beanies, raised more than $27 million, and leveraged another $45 million.

“It’s really bittersweet to be honest, because I wouldn’t be here unless my late husband had died,” she said in her acceptance speech.
Carrie Bickmore is honoured to be recognised for her dedication to Beanies 4 Brain Cancer. (Credit: Getty)
“And so, while I graciously accept the award, if I could go back and make that little 21-year-old young Carrie not have to watch her boyfriend have a seizure in bed and then endure a nine-year battle with brain cancer, I would do that.”

Reflecting on the accolade on Instagram, she said she was in “shock”.

“What an honour and what a room filled with wonderful people,” she wrote.

“Without at least $100 million investment, our Brain Cancer Centre can’t continue and can’t find a cure.”

“There are over 150 billionaires in this country. If I can get a coffee with each of them and simply get 1 million from each (which is nothing for them). We WILL find a cure.”

“We punch above our weight in this country in terms of medical research and breakthroughs. With the right money, I believe our researchers at @braincancercentre can achieve anything.”
Who can forget Carrie’s iconic moment at the 2015 Logie Awards? (Credit: Channel Nine)

A historic Logies speech

The 44-year-old also implored the celebrity guests – and viewers watching at home – to “whack on a beanie” to help raise awareness, as she put one on herself.

On May 20, Carrie returned to her former workplace The Project to celebrate her foundation’s impressive achievements and to promote the latest release of her fundraising beanies.

It was her first time back since leaving the show in 2022.

The panellists, including Waleed Aly and Sarah Harris, gave Carrie a well-deserved hero’s welcome at the desk. At the time, Carrie revealed that the charity reached a special fundraising milestone.

“It’s absolutely mind-blowing to have raised almost $25 million,” Carrie said.

“When I spoke out at the Logies, I just wanted people to know about brain cancer. I have major anxiety about public speaking, and you can hear it in my speech, but when I think back now, I’m so thankful that I did it.”
Carrie returned to The Project for the first time since leaving the show in 2022. (Credit: Channel 10)
Carrie added that, once she realised Australians were on board with supporting her cause, she “naively” hoped to raise $1 million, and “that will be enough to solve brain cancer”.

While she is “so proud” of the Foundation’s achievements, she’s “sad we don’t have a cure – yet”.

In Australia, someone is diagnosed with brain cancer every five hours. Four out of five people die within five years of their diagnosis, and brain cancer kills more Australians under the age of 40 than any other cancer.

“But researchers say there is hope,” Carrie also said on The Project.
Carrie’s late husband Greg with their son Oliver. Greg was just 35 when he passed away. (Credit: The Project)
Carrie’s husband, Greg, was just 35 when he died, after fighting brain cancer for a decade. Their son, Oliver, was three at the time.

Since then, Carrie has gone on to forge a hugely successful career in TV and radio.

She welcomed two more children – daughters Evie, 10, and Adelaide, six – with partner Chris Walker, whom she split from in 2023. Ollie is now 17.
Carrie and her son Ollie share an unbreakable bond. (Credit: Instagram)
“I look at Ollie and see Greg, and I love that,” a proud Carrie has said.

Ollie has joined his mum in her fundraising efforts over the years.

On The Project, Carrie announced that her next target is to raise $500,000 by running The Big Five Marathon in South Africa, alongside 15 celebrity friends, on June 14.

“My goal is to come back to [The Project] in 10 years, and be able to say ‘now, we do have a cure,’” she added. “I’m going to keep going.”