A former ABC newsreader has been remembered as an ‘incredible journalist’ with a ‘strong voice for country communities’ after she died at the age of 70. Ms Deane was a regional radio host at 3SR before moving to work at Shepparton, Bendigo, Ballarat and Melbourne as an ABC newsreader and journalist.
Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan shared the tragic news on social media late Wednesday night.
“You may not know her name, but so many of us in regional Victoria would instantly recognise the voice of Jan Deane,” Ms Allan wrote on social media.
“Jan was an incredible journalist — a Shepparton girl who I first met when she was reading the news for Bendigo’s own 3BO.
“She clocked up an impressive 20 years at the ABC, leaving the Melbourne newsroom to tell the stories of her own community in Shepparton.”
Ms Allan thanked Ms Deane for being a “strong voice for country communities”.
“Jan was passionate about regional Victoria and the issues that matter to regional Victorians,” Ms Allan wrote.
“My heart goes out to her family, friends and colleagues.
“Thank you Jan, for being such a strong voice for country communities.”
I wondered why there no more book reviews by Jan in the Riverine Herald. I remember Jan moving on quickly to another table when she tried to talk to my mother at a Hawthorn entertainment venue that we took my mother to for her 70th birthday. She read my mother’s mood correctly. And I remember Jan on GMV 6 about 30 years ago.
Good on you Jan!