ABC broadcaster and ovarian cancer advocate Jill Emberson has died at the age of 60 after a four-year battle with the deadly disease.

She was the voice of ABC Newcastle's Morning program for seven years, before she was diagnosed with terminal ovarian cancer in 2016.

She remembered wanting to curl up and disappear when she got the news.

"No-one ever forgets that day of diagnosis," she said.

"I'll never forget the heat that surged up through my body."

Ovarian cancer is the eighth most common cancer affecting women in Australia and the five-year survival rate is just 45 per cent.

After spending her life telling other people's stories, Emberson now found herself becoming the story, as she realised she had the chance to advocate for thousands of women receiving the same devastating prognosis.

"I need to be a voice, I couldn't sleep well at night knowing that I didn't use what I could to tell the story of this cancer.

"My hope is that women will feel more able to raise their symptoms with their doctors, that their doctors will pick them up a bit better."

A passion for stories

Angela Catterns, Gayle Austin, Jill Emberson and Annette Shun Wah at JJJ. ( Supplied: Jill Emberson )

Emberson began her broadcasting career in the newsroom at ABC Radio in Sydney, before presenting Mornings on triple j in the 1980s.

She then moved onto the ABC TV science program, Quantum.

A romance in Paris in 1989 meant acquiring French language skills that helped Jill land a position in New Caledonia as the Women's Communications Officer for the Pacific Women's Resource Bureau.

There she got the chance to learn more about the Pacific lifestyle of her paternal grandmother in Tonga.

Emberson moved on to work as a communications specialist for global organisations like Greenpeace and General Electric.

She joined ABC Newcastle as the Mornings presenter in 2009 and quickly put her stamp on the program.

Her passion for telling the stories of Indigenous people led to the creation of a podcast, Meet the Mob, and she was a Walkley Award finalist for her radio series 'Hooked on Heroin' about the heroin crisis in the Hunter.

But in 2016 her cancer diagnosis spurred her into a fresh cause, fighting to raise awareness and funds for the often-overlooked and deadliest of all women's cancers.

Accolades for advocacy

Terminal ovarian cancer patient Jill Emberson delivers an emotional speech at the National Press Club. ( ABC Canberra: Michael Black )

After undergoing two years of gruelling treatment, Emberson returned to work in 2018 to create the award-winning podcast, Still Jill, a raw and unflinching look behind the scenes of her cancer journey.

The podcast reveals Jill's unusual marriage proposal, delivered from her hospital bed in September 2017 as she recovered from emergency brain surgery.

Sorry, this audio has expired Ken Lambert reflects on his life and incredible love with Jill Emberson

Her then partner Dr Ken Lambert promptly turned her down, assuring her he would consider her offer when she was no longer under the influence of an anaesthetic.

They married the following September.

In January 2019 she was recognised for her contribution to journalism and advocacy work, being named Newcastle's Citizen of the Year.

"I regret that it's to do with my ovarian cancer advocacy but I'm thrilled that it's also acknowledging my work as a journalist," she said at the time.

"I am humbled and honoured to be named citizen of the year in Newcastle and will use this precious opportunity to raise more awareness about ovarian cancer."

She founded the Pink Meets Teal campaign, inspiring breast cancer survivors to get behind the push for funding fairness for ovarian cancer.

Space to play or pause, M to mute, left and right arrows to seek, up and down arrows for volume. Watch Duration: 3 minutes 48 seconds 3 m 48 s Funding fairness for ovarian cancer | Australian Story ( Australian Story )

"Because it is a cancer that's a bit hidden in the shadow of the big pink marketing machine for breast cancer, so I think I've been able to make a difference to that," Jill said of the successful campaign.

In February 2019, she went to Canberra pleading for more research funding, and by April the Federal Government had announced a landmark $20 million for ovarian cancer research.

The Federal Health Minister Greg Hunt recently paid tribute to her lobbying efforts.

"Jill Emberson has been a driving force for better research for ovarian cancer," Mr Hunt said.

"She's been a passionate, powerful spokesperson, and by telling her story she's been able to help people around Australia."

The Jill Effect

ABC Newcastle broadcaster Jill Emberson and her husband Ken Lambert in Newcastle. ( Australian Story: Brent Wilson )

Ovarian Cancer Australia credited Emberson with creating what many are calling "the Jill Effect" when it comes to raising funds to tackle the disease.

Director at Ovarian Cancer Australia Josy Shaw said she had done more than anyone to lift awareness of what is the deadliest of all women's cancers.

"Jill's quite possibly had the greatest impact we've ever seen at Ovarian Cancer Australia," she said.

"The community are talking about something called the Jill Effect — there's so much gratitude for everything she's done.

"Her advocacy work has given them so much hope."

Ms Shaw said Emberson's advocacy had been a game-changer for the sector.

"We brought Jill to parliament this year, and the effect she's had on the sector financially has never been seen before.

"She's brought tens of millions of dollars to the sector and I feel from the work she's done, we'll see that momentum carry on for years to come."

Jill Emberson often spoke of the urgency she felt in getting her message across, saying ovarian cancer sufferers generally don't survive long enough to become effective advocates for the disease.

Jill Emberson with her daughter Malia. ( Supplied: Jill Emberson )

Ms Shaw said Emberson used her skills as a broadcaster and communicator to make the most of the time she had.

"That is the tragic reality of it and what we've seen with that is a great legacy.

"Often it's the families left behind that carry the torch, and we're here to help them with that.

"I just think Jill was quite a unique individual. She had such tenacity, passion, and also her vulnerability, coupled with her intellect and (sense of humour) has really had a great impact on so many individuals.

"I know here at Ovarian Cancer Australia, she inspires us all greatly, she was just a remarkable individual."



Jill Emberson is survived by her husband Ken Lambert and daughter Malia.

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