Facebook’s Rubber Room has confirmed that Joan Sharry (AFTRS) has passed away. It was Annette Nazaroff who informed radio readers of the news. In recent years Annette had met with Joan at least on a weekly basis and was a great source of strength and encouragement for Joan.

Joan was part of the original team when the Radio Unit was set up at AFTRS (Australian Film and Television School) in the early to mid-70’s. Also serving with her during Joan’s time was the late Phil Charley. She was to many of the students in those formative years of the fulltime course often a substitute mother for those who were at the course from interstate and from regional areas.

Joan had a great passion for radio going back to when she was the breakfast announcer on 6KG in Kalgoorlie when she was just 16, in 1944.