Anne Deveson

Anne Barbara Deveson AO (19 June 1930 – 12 December 2016) was an Australian writer, broadcaster, filmmaker and social commentator.

Spouse: Ellis Blain

Partner: Robert Theobald

Children: 2 sons: Jonathan; Joshua; daughter: Georgia Blain

Life and career

Anne Deveson was born in Kuala Lumpur, Malaya. During World War II, Deveson's family moved to Western Australia as refugees. She attempted a Science degree in England, but dropped out to pursue other interests. Deveson was one of many broadcasters who opposed non-communist involvement in Vietnam.

Anne Deveson was the second wife of broadcaster Ellis Blain (1914–1979).

Deveson's son Jonathan developed schizophrenia and ultimately died of a drug overdose. She wrote about her experience, in the book Tell Me I'm Here which won the 1991 Human Rights Award for non-fiction, and then translated her work into the documentary film, Spinning Out.

She helped establish the Schizophrenia Fellowship of NSW and, in 1986 together with Dr Margaret Leggatt, launched the national body Schizophrenia Australia Foundation, now named SANE Australia.

Deveson's book Resilience was written after the sudden death of her partner, the English economist Robert Theobald in 1999 and draws on her emotions and feelings.

Anne Deveson was made a Member of the Order of Australia in 1983 for services to the media and an Officer of the Order of Australia in 1993 for her work in community health and for increasing the public awareness of schizophrenia.

She chaired the South Australian Film Corporation from 1984–1987 and was Director of the Australian Film, Television and Radio School from 1985–1988.

Deveson was also known to many Australians as "the Omo lady" after appearing in television commercials for the soap powder.

She died on 12 December 2016. Her daughter, the writer Georgia Blain, predeceased her by only three days, dying on 9 December.

Bibliography

• Australians at Risk (Cassell, 1978)
• Tell Me I'm Here (Penguin, 1991) ISBN 0-14-017339-0
• Coming of Age: Twenty-one Interviews About Growing Older (Scribe Publications, 1994)
• Lines in the Sand (Penguin, 2000) (fiction)
• Resilience (Allen & Unwin, 2003) ISBN 1-86448-634-1
• Waging Peace (Allen & Unwin, 2013) ISBN 978-1-74331-003-8

Filmography

• Who Killed Jenny Langby? (South Australian Film Corporation, 1974, acted as herself), a docudrama written by Greg Barker and Donald Crombie (producer)
• Do I Have to Kill My Child? (C.I.D. Productions, 1976, co-writer with Donald Crombie, producer)
• Achieving (Pilgrim International Films, 1979, writer) TV show produced by Betty Wood
• Spinning Out (Australian Film Commission, 1991, writer, director and producer)

Honors and Awards

• 1983 – Member of the Order of Australia for services to the media
• 1991 – Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission Non – Fiction Award for Tell Me I'm Here.
• 1993 – Officer of the Order of Australia for her work in community health and for increasing the public awareness of schizophrenia.
• 1994 – Honorary Doctorate, University of South Australia