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Sandra Harvey

Australian investigative journalist and author From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Sandra Harvey (19 September 1958 – 21 January 2008) was an Australian investigative journalist and true crime writer.

Born
Sandra Dawn Harvey

(1958-09-19)19 September 1958
Died21 January 2008(2008-01-21) (aged 49)
Darlinghurst, New South Wales, Australia
OccupationsJournalist and author
LanguageEnglish
Quick facts Born, Died ...
Sandra Harvey
Born
Sandra Dawn Harvey

(1958-09-19)19 September 1958
Died21 January 2008(2008-01-21) (aged 49)
Darlinghurst, New South Wales, Australia
OccupationsJournalist and author
Writing career
LanguageEnglish
Notable awards2007 Ned Kelly Awards for Crime Writing – Lifetime Contribution
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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

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