As we count down to World No Tobacco Day on 31 May, it’s the perfect time to start meaningful conversations about smoking and vaping. Across the country, support services are coming together to encourage Australians to reflect on their relationship with tobacco and explore ways to quit for good.
Recently, NBPU TIS staff members Astrid and Telita had the opportunity to attend a morning tea hosted by Cancer Council SA, in partnership with Preventive Health SA. The highlight of the event was a heartfelt talk from AFL legend, Brownlow Medalist and dual premiership coach Malcolm Blight who is also a proud ambassador for the Quit Your Way in May campaign.
Malcolm’s connection to smoking goes back decades, beginning in childhood. His father, a hand model in rolling tobacco for advertisements, unknowingly passed on both the imagery and the habit. As a young athlete growing up in a culture where smoking was not only common but often encouraged through peer pressure, half-time cigarettes and tobacco company sponsorships it was almost inevitable he would take it up.
Malcolm remembered playing in the Escort Cup and watching cricket during the Benson & Hedges Championships, noting how smoking was prevalent everywhere at the time.
Despite the physically demanding nature of his sport, Malcolm continued smoking well into his professional career. Each year, he’d battle recurring flu and bronchitis, but it wasn’t until one particularly bad bout that he decided enough was enough.
Over the years, he’d tried all sorts of methods to quit from the rubber band method to rationing himself to four smoke breaks a day at the office. But it was the return of bronchitis that finally pushed him to take his last puff. Remarkably, within just three days, he broke the habit and hasn’t looked back since.
Malcolm now uses his voice to inspire others. He was particularly in support of the NBPU Tackling Indigenous Smoking program when the conversation arose. He’s living proof that it’s never too late to quit. Or in his own words: Stop the Start.
The Quit Your Way in May campaign is already making a big impact. Cancer Council SA has seen more than 3,000 people register for the program, with over 31,000 visits to the campaign website. Christine Morris, Manager of Prevention and Advocacy, hopes this momentum will help reduce the current average of 28 tobacco-related cancer deaths each month.
We’re proud to be part of the movement and are excited to see what our teams across the country will deliver for this year’s World No Tobacco Day.
Telita Goile, Malcolm Blight and Astrid Innes at the Quit Your Way in May Morning Tea.
April 30, 2025
Quit Your Way in May with Malcolm Blight
As we count down to World No Tobacco Day on 31 May, it’s the perfect time to start meaningful conversations about smoking and vaping. Across the country, support services are coming together to encourage Australians to reflect on their relationship with tobacco and explore ways to quit for good.
Recently, NBPU TIS staff members Astrid and Telita had the opportunity to attend a morning tea hosted by Cancer Council SA, in partnership with Preventive Health SA. The highlight of the event was a heartfelt talk from AFL legend, Brownlow Medalist and dual premiership coach Malcolm Blight who is also a proud ambassador for the Quit Your Way in May campaign.
Malcolm’s connection to smoking goes back decades, beginning in childhood. His father, a hand model in rolling tobacco for advertisements, unknowingly passed on both the imagery and the habit. As a young athlete growing up in a culture where smoking was not only common but often encouraged through peer pressure, half-time cigarettes and tobacco company sponsorships it was almost inevitable he would take it up.
Malcolm remembered playing in the Escort Cup and watching cricket during the Benson & Hedges Championships, noting how smoking was prevalent everywhere at the time.
Despite the physically demanding nature of his sport, Malcolm continued smoking well into his professional career. Each year, he’d battle recurring flu and bronchitis, but it wasn’t until one particularly bad bout that he decided enough was enough.
Over the years, he’d tried all sorts of methods to quit from the rubber band method to rationing himself to four smoke breaks a day at the office. But it was the return of bronchitis that finally pushed him to take his last puff. Remarkably, within just three days, he broke the habit and hasn’t looked back since.
Malcolm now uses his voice to inspire others. He was particularly in support of the NBPU Tackling Indigenous Smoking program when the conversation arose. He’s living proof that it’s never too late to quit. Or in his own words: Stop the Start.
The Quit Your Way in May campaign is already making a big impact. Cancer Council SA has seen more than 3,000 people register for the program, with over 31,000 visits to the campaign website. Christine Morris, Manager of Prevention and Advocacy, hopes this momentum will help reduce the current average of 28 tobacco-related cancer deaths each month.
We’re proud to be part of the movement and are excited to see what our teams across the country will deliver for this year’s World No Tobacco Day.