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Vale: Anne Deveson

Broadcaster, journalist and social activist Anne Deveson, has died.

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Broadcaster, journalist and social activist Anne Deveson, has died aged 86.

Diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease several years ago, she died on Monday, just 3 days after her daughter Georgia Blain, 52, died from brain cancer.

Deveson was born in then Malaya and her family fled to Western Australia as refugees during World War II before returning to the UK. She joined the ABC in the 1950s.

She produced a number of documentaries and books on social issues ranging from child abuse and depression to homosexuality and disabilities. She was a former head of the Australian Film, Television and Radio School, the SA Film Corporation and helped establish the national body Schizophrenia Australia, now called Sane.

Deveson also produced Do I Have To Kill My Child? featuring Jacki Weaver and the 1979 telemovie Achieving.

ABC broadcaster, Robyn Williams said, “She was a star on commercial radio on 2GB. She did some famous advertisements on television but never, ever lost her primacy as a brilliant journalist and a wonderfully humane person.

“She will be remembered for her optimism and integrity and also for her incredible flair as someone on radio and writing the most wonderful books.”

She was made a Member of the Order of Australia in 1983 for service to the media and an Officer of the Order of Australia in 1993 for service to community health.

Source: ABC

3 Responses

  1. I remember reading Anne’s book 20 or so years ago about her son and his battle with schizophrenia. It was an incredibly powerful book tha still leaves me with strong feelings just thinking about it. Here is a woman who really did some extraordinary things in her lifetime

  2. I so admired this lady also…in all her roles…I also remember the difficult times she documented with late son and schizophrenia….she shared to help others..and she did.
    To those left here…peace…

  3. Anne was a great lady! A long and distinguished and diverse career. I admired her courage and determination in bringing her concerns to creative pursuits. I had the chance to go up to her in a cafe. She was very gracious and humble. A tough life of tragedy too. Anne Deveson made her mark

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