RIP Alison Drower

Alison Drower. Image: SCA

The Australian radio industry is mourning the loss of legendary news presenter Alison Drower, who died yesterday in Canberra Hospital – surrounded by family – after battling a rare form of cancer.

An industry trailblazer, in 2018 Alison made Radio Today’s list of the industry’s greatest newsreaders.

Alison read breakfast news for Doug Mulray on Triple M Sydney and – alongside Richard Wilkins – was the face of MTV Australia.

She went on to spend almost 15 years as regional TV and radio News Director for SCA

For the past three years, she had worked as a news specialist for ARN, assisting with its broadcast news strategy.

Close mate Fiona Wyllie took to social media to pay tribute to her bestie, saying “I was lucky enough to have nearly 40 years on radio and the very best part of being on air, was finding my best friend of 40 years Ali Drower.”

“Ali taught me like so many others what a good story is. What’s the lead? How to edit? and how to live life fully.”

“Ali helped so many get their start and their next step in news. It is with the heaviest of hearts this is the news.”