Samuel Johnson has been named the 2018 Victorian Australian of the Year, for his tireless efforts raising funds for cancer research.
The incredible honour, which was met with a standing ovation during a ceremony in Melbourne, comes just weeks after the death of his beloved older sister Connie.
“Words don’t even describe this … it doesn’t make sense” he told the Herald Sun of the award.
“I found the whole thing very inspirational, it is incredible.”
Despite experiencing nerves ahead of the announcement, the actor said he was comforted by the knowledge Connie was “smiling somewhere right now.”
“She’d be super proud,” he added.
During his acceptance speech, the actor — who has appeared on television dramas The Secret Life Of Us and Rush — reiterated his pledge to put aside acting until he had raised $10 million for cancer research.
“I have no immediate plans to return to acting,” he said.
Sam co-founded the Love Your Sister charity with his older sister, managing to raise more than $7 million for vital cancer research before she died from the disease.
Speaking with The Project last month, the passionate campaigner revealed big plans to continue his sister’s legacy.
“All the lessons are just coming quick and strong […] Really only in her absence that her lessons have become most profound,” he told the news panel.
“I thought that our quest to raise $10 million was it. I thought my role now was to be the chief custodian of Connie’s legacy. I’ve realised now that if I think that, I haven’t learnt the lessons.”
“I’ve realised it’s not about $10 million, it’s about solving this problem we call cancer.”
Sam went on to reveal that he’s launching a line of socks to raise money for the cause, taking inspiration from his sister’s nickname — ‘Connie Cottonsocks.’ He said that that along with Carrie Bickmore’s Beanies 4 Brain Cancer, they’ll have the cancer conundrum covered from head to toe.
“Seeing as Carrie has the whole Beanie thing covered, we thought we’d bung out some ‘Connie Cottonsocks’ and try and cover this cancer conundrum from head to toe,” he wrote on Facebook. “Connie doesn’t have any use for your sentiment now. If she wanted anyone to take anything from her life, it was to highlight the importance of medical research. And we all need socks right?”
WATCH: A look back on Connie’s journey toward “cancer vanquishment.” Post continues…
“In the name of my dear gone sister, I’m asking,” he continued. “Please buy some socks and then maybe we can share the absolute bejesus out of this post and turbocharge our push for a cure, so families need not continue to endure the baseless trauma that cancer so cruelly provides.”
“I want my sister back but seeing as that’s not going to happen, I might as well sell some f*cking socks so that other families don’t have to go through this pain.”
If you would like to donate to Connie’s charity in a bid to fund cancer research, visit the Love Your Sister website for more information.
