The voice on the other end of the phone was frail but happy. We both knew the man on the line was dying, but he was ringing with good news. I had only met John Kelleher a few weeks earlier to tell his story . For more than 30 years he had been the preeminent forensic scientist in the specialised Victoria Police Fire and Explosives Unit. John Kelleher at the forensic lab during his career as a fire investigator. He was considered so valuable he went past the age when he wanted to retire because he was so vital in so many crucial investigations and the tobacco war fires meant he had never been so busy. Then last year he was diagnosed with aggressive esophageal cancer and retired on the spot. He attended over 7000 scenes, and in the early days his protective gear consisted of gumboots and overalls. The link between multiple forms of cancer, including esophageal, has long been acknowledged and yet, his submission that his pending death was work related had been knocked back.…