At the end of each year we reflect on the radio stories that have affected us. Some are small moments that have something about them that transcends the station, others are live and unexpected outcomes to was assumed to be a foregone conclusion and then there are the ones that touch your heart. Sergeant Sammy, young Adelaide boy Sammy Scully, and the very special way Mix 102.3 made his dreams come true, was one that lingered. I was saddened to read of his death this morning.
Sammy was diagnosed with Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma (DIPG), an inoperable brain tumour, in January 2023. A year ago Mix102.3’s Max & Ali in the Morning, Max Burford and Ali Clarke, plus some celebrity friends, SAPOL and even the Premier of South Australia Peter Malinauskas, helped make the 8 year old’s dream come true and he became a police officer for a day.
The Premier even issued a ‘Stop Work’ order between 12:30pm and 1:30pm on that day, inviting South Australians to Rundle Mall to cheer on Sammy’s mission of arresting the three celebrity criminals, singer-songwriter Guy Sebastian, Adelaide Crows’ ruckman Reilly O’Brien and cricketer Alex Carey. Hundreds turned out to cheer Sammy on. If I lived in Adelaide I would have been there too.
This was a moment that transcended a station and city and showed the best of what radio can mean to a community. Rest in peace Sergeant Sammy. My thoughts are with your family who loved you so much.
Jen Seyderhelm is a writer, editor and podcaster for Radioinfo. Email: [email protected]