Sandra Harvey
Sandra Harvey | |
|---|---|
| Born | Sandra Dawn Harvey 19 September 1958 |
| Died | 21 January 2008 (aged 49) Darlinghurst, New South Wales, Australia |
| Occupation | Journalist and author |
| Language | English |
| Notable awards | 2007 Ned Kelly Awards for Crime Writing – Lifetime Contribution |
Sandra Harvey (19 September 1958 – 21 January 2008) was an Australian investigative journalist and true crime writer.
Career
Harvey began her career at Australian Associated Press, where she worked as a police reporter from 1984 to 1989.[1] She was a journalist at the Sydney Morning Herald for eleven years, reporting on crime.[2]
She next worked as press secretary for Paul Whelan during his time as New South Wales Police Minister.[3]
Finally, she worked for ABC's Four Corners, investigating and producing stories such as "Homies" concerning child abuse in homes run by the Salvation Army[3] and "A Deathly Silence" on teenage suicide.[4]
Books
Her first book, published in 1989, co-authored with Lindsay Simpson was Brothers in Arms about the clash between the Comancheros and Bandidos now known as the Milperra massacre.[5] The best-selling book was made into a television mini-series, Bikie Wars: Brothers in Arms produced by Screentime, and screened on Channel 10 in May 2012. The series peaked at 1.26 million viewers.[6]
Her second book, The Killer Next Door, concerned the serial killer John Glover. Again co-authored with Lindsay Simpson, it investigated the life and crimes of the so-called Granny Killer, who was convicted of murdering six women.[7]
In 2000, her third book, The Ghost of Ludwig Gertsch, was published.[8] In it, she explored Gertsch's life and death as a rich homosexual businessman. Her findings were endorsed by police reinvestigation into Gertsch's death and a second coronial inquiry.[3]
Her fourth book, My Husband My Killer, also co-authored with Lindsay Simpson, was an investigation into the murder of Megan Kalajzich.[9] An award-winning telemovie of the same name was produced in 2000 starring Colin Friels, Martin Sacks and David Field.[10]
Her final book, co-authored with Sydney Morning Herald journalist Jennifer Cooke, was Done Like a Dinner. It explored crimes related to restaurants in Sydney and Melbourne.[1]
In 2007, she and Lindsay Simpson jointly won the Lifetime Achievement award presented by the Ned Kelly Awards for Crime Writing.[11][12]
Death and legacy
Harvey died of cancer on 21 January 2008 aged 49.[3]
The SD Harvey Short Crime Story Award was inaugurated in 2008 in her honour.[13]
References
- ^ a b "About Sandra". SD Harvey Award. Retrieved 24 May 2026.
- ^ "Sandra Harvey". AustLit: Discover Australian Stories. The University of Queensland. Retrieved 24 May 2026.
- ^ a b c d "ABC mourns death of investigative reporter Harvey". ABC News. 21 January 2008. Retrieved 24 May 2026.
- ^ McDermott, Michael; Collie, Alex; Harvery, Sandra; Nettleship, Michael (2006), A deathly silence, retrieved 25 May 2026
- ^ "Brothers in Arms". AustLit: Discover Australian Stories. The University of Queensland. Retrieved 24 May 2026.
- ^ "New shows score with viewers | TV Tonight". tvtonight.com.au. Retrieved 30 April 2015.
- ^ "Granny killer found dead in cell". The Sydney Morning Herald. 9 September 2005. Retrieved 24 May 2026.
- ^ "The Ghost of Ludwig Gertsch". AustLit: Discover Australian Stories. The University of Queensland. Retrieved 24 May 2026.
- ^ "My Husband, My Killer". AustLit: Discover Australian Stories. The University of Queensland. Retrieved 24 May 2026.
- ^ "My Husband...My Killer?". Screen Australia. Retrieved 24 May 2026.
- ^ "Sandra Harvey & Lindsay Simpson". Australian Crime Writers Association. Retrieved 25 May 2026.
- ^ "Ned Kelly Awards for Crime Writing - Lifetime Contribution". AustLit: Discover Australian Stories. The University of Queensland. Retrieved 24 May 2026.
- ^ "Crime Writing". SD Harvey Award. Retrieved 24 May 2026.