Andrea Stretton

Dedication of a tree to Andrea Stretton, Centennial Park, Sydney

Andrea Stretton (11 March 1952 – 16 November 2007) was an Australian arts journalist and television presenter. She was known as a major advocate for the arts in Australia.[1]

Career

Andrea Stretton began her major network broadcasting career in 1985 when she took a job with SBS Radio.[1] She remained at SBS television and radio for more than a decade. She also worked as a series editor and presenter for the SBS television programs The Book Show and Masterpiece.[1]

Stretton went on to present on Australian Broadcasting Corporation's Sunday Afternoon, a network arts program, from 1998 until 2001.[1]

Stretton's interest in the arts also extended into the publishing world as a long time book reviewer for The Sydney Morning Herald.[2] She was a contributing book editor for Art & Australia magazine.[1] She was also a well-known figure at Australian writers' festivals,[1] including the Sydney Writers Week.[3]

She was awarded the Order of Arts and Letters in 2002 by the government of France for her contributions to the arts.[1] She was the creative director of the 1998 and 1999 Olympic arts festivals.[3]

Death

Stretton died of lung cancer at Prince of Wales Hospital in Randwick on 16 November 2007 at the age of 55.[2] She was survived by her partner Alan, her son, and her granddaughter.[1]

Her funeral, which was held at St Canice's Roman Catholic Church in Sydney, included readings from the Tibetan Book of the Dead and T. S. Eliot.[3]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h "Andrea Stretton dies of cancer". News.co.au. 17 November 2007. Archived from the original on 19 November 2007. Retrieved 10 December 2007.
  2. ^ a b Browne, Sheila (19 November 2007). "Tributes flow for 'Guardian Angel'". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 10 December 2007.
  3. ^ a b c Marr, David (24 November 2007). "Farewell to broadcaster loved by writers and readers". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 10 December 2007.