Anne Deveson

Anne Deveson

Anne Barbara Deveson AO (born 19 June 1930, Kuala Lumpur, Malaya) is an Australian writer, broadcaster, filmmaker and social commentator.

During World War II, Deveson's family moved to Western Australia from Malaya 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 broadcaster Ellis Blain's (1914–1979) second wife.

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, and then translated her work into the film, Spinning Out.

She helped establish the NSW Schizophrenia Fellowship and the national body Schizophrenia 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 own 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.

In 1991 Deveson was presented with the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission Non - Fiction Award for Tell Me I'm Here.

The writer Georgia Blain is her daughter.