Vale: Alison Nisselle

Esteemed Australian screenwriter Alison Nisselle, whose credits include Janus, Phoenix, The Sullivans, Prisoner, and Curtin has died.

She died last week, aged 80.

Her body of work is outstanding, writing or story editing 280 hours of television including The Box, Carson’s Law, Prisoner, The Sullivans, Sons & Daughters, GP, Ocean Girl, Ship to Shore, Thunderstone, Bed of Roses, Blue Heelers, Headland, Home & Away, and Bloom.

She was creator or co-creator of Zoo Family, Phoenix, Janus, and Marshall Law.

She wrote telemovies Curtin, Parer’s War, The Feds, Street Angels, co-wrote the film Healing and script edited Mystery of a Hansom Cab and Hawke plus feature films The Interview and The Truth About Jack.

Once describing herself as an “old chick, done everything”, she also wrote documentaries.

The Australian Writers’ Guild described her as “…a towering figure among the generation of writers without whom today’s film and television industry would not exist. She will be remembered not only for her vast and varied body of work, and her numerous accolades and awards, but also for her warmth and wit. She was a brilliant writer, editor, creator, producer and, to many of us, a wise and generous mentor.”

Amongst her many awards were a Medal in the Order of Australia in 2018, Screen Leader Award Film Victoria 2016, Queensland Literary Award 2013 and an Australian Human Rights award in 1995.

A live stream of the funeral service on Thursday is available here.