Prominent South Australians we lost in 2022

Some great South Australians were among the list of prominent Australians we farewelled in 2022. We take a moment to remember their lives and achievements

Celebrated in the worlds of sport, theatre, visual arts and viticulture, we farewelled several talented South Australians in 2022. We remember their remarkable contributions, not only to our state but the nation and the world.

ANN NEWMARCH OAM, 76

Died January 13, 2022

Ann Newmarch ahead of the opening of a new exhibition in Prospect in 2006. Photo: Chris Walls.

Born in Adelaide in 1945, Newmarch was a feminist activist and esteemed artist known nationally and internationally for her work.

Newmarch embraced feminist causes in the 1970s and was a founding member of the Progressive Art Movement and the Women’s Art Movement.

Newmarch was recognised for her “trailblazing work” as a feminist and social activist, The Art Gallery of South Australia said in a statement following her death.

“Ann Newmarch was an artist who never shied away from the political, the radical or the personal,” Art Gallery of South Australia director Rhana Davenport said.

“Ann was ground-breaking in more ways than one; she was among the first women to hold a teaching position at the South Australian School of Art and was the first woman to be the subject of a retrospective exhibition at AGSA, held in 1997 and titled The Personal is Political,” Ms Davenport said.

HOSSEIN VALAMANESH AM, 72

Died: January 15, 2022

Hossein Valamanensh with dog Honey in 2018 after being awarded a $30,000 Helen Lempriere Scholarship, which will help pay for one of his works to be installed at Sculpture by the Sea in Bondi.

The world-renowned Iranian-Australian artist died suddenly after suffering a massive heart attack.

As Patrick McDonald reported, Valamanesh was working as late as the day before his death to put the finishing touches on an installation with his wife, fellow artist Angela, for the Adelaide Biennial exhibition.

One of the couple’s most distinctive public works, a water sculpture called 14 Pieces, stands in front of the SA Museum.

Born on Mach 2, 1949, in Tehran, Valamanesh emigrated in 1973 and graduated from the South Australian School of Art in 1977.

In a career spanning almost five decades, Valamanese established himself as one of Australia’s leading contemporary artists.

Art Gallery of SA director Rhana Davenport said Valamanesh was an “internationally important” artist.

“Hossein’s passing leaves us all deeply shocked and saddened ... We have lost a true poet,” Devenport said.

“His turning tree called After Rain is one of the most popular works at AGSA.

“Despite Hossein’s tragic passing, his legacy will continue to inspire, astonish and resonate with our visitors.”

JASON JANUSZKE, 43

Died May 20, 2022

Personal trainer Jason Januszke has been remembered as a devoted husband to his wife Jess and father to sons Tom and Jack. Picture: Supplied

The personal trainer died suddenly after suffering a heart attack while running on Mt Lofty.

The owner of Inspire Health & Fitness Studio in the city also trained several Port Adelaide and Crows stars, who paid tribute to the father-of-two following his shock death.

Port Adelaide players also donned black armbands in his honour.

Crows star Taylor Walker and wife Ellie described Januszke as a proud dad and close friend.

“A man of integrity, genuine care and passion for everything he did. A smile was always on his face because he loved what he did and he loved his family and mates,” Walker said.

Port Adelaide captain Tom Jonas paid tribute to Januszke’s “selfless” character.

“Jase was more than a training partner he was a great mate. Energetic, driven, generous and selfless he made those in his presence the best form of themselves,” Jonas said.

NEIL KERLEY, 88

Died: June 29, 2022

Ted Whitten and Neil Kerley were great friends but also fierce rivals on the football field.

The football great died after suffering a medical episode behind the wheel and crashing through a fence into a paddock on Mallee Rd, just 4km from his home at Walker Flat.

Barbara, his wife of 67 years, told The Advertiser, she was reading a book when Kerley said he was going out to collect kindling for the fire.

“I offered to come with him, but he said ‘no you stay here by the fire and read your book I won’t be long,’’ Mrs Kerley, 85, said.

Affectionately known as ‘Kerls’, Kerley played 157 games for West Adelaide between 1956-1963, before moving to South Adelaide where he played 56 games between 1964-1966, then Glenelg where he played 55 games between 1967-1969.

The two-time SANFL premiership captain-coach also coached West Adelaide, South Adelaide, Glenelg, West Torrens and Central District.

He was inducted into the Australian Football Hall of Fame in 1997 and the SA Football Hall of Fame in 2002.

He was awarded an Order of Australia medal in 2007.

MEL DZELDE, 52

Died December 8, 2022

Mel Dzelde with husband Chris Picture: Tom Huntley

The SA radio identity and author died after a dual battle with cancer and motor neurone disease (MND)

As The Advertiser reported, the mother of three beat rectal cancer three times only to have it return again before also being diagnosed with MND.

Husband Chris Dzelde, a fellow radio personality, paid tribute to his “best friend” and “partner in life”.

“She meant the world to me,” Mr Dzelde told The Advertiser.

“We lived together, we worked together, and we loved it.

Dzelde had a long career in radio, starting as a casual on MIX 102.3 before taking up a full time role with Grant Broadcasters before heading back to MIX as executive producer on the Kym, Ali and Dzelde breakfast show.

In 2002 at a Women’s Conference in Detroit, she met Oprah Winfrey and the pair became friends and kept in touch.

After learning about her health battles, Winfrey asked Dzelde to write a column for her Oprah Daily website, in which Dzelde declared that, while she was terminally ill, she had never been happier.

“Don’t get me wrong, at age 51, I’m far too young to be dying. But I’ve come to realise that thinking that way steals my joy,” she wrote.

Just weeks before her death, Winfey changed her flight schedule to phone Dzelde and also pledged $15,000 to a GoFundMe set up to support the family.

FRANCIS d‘ARENBERG OSBORN, 95

Died December 16, 2022

McLaren Vale winemaker d'Arry Osborn in 1998.

The South Australian wine icon and patriarch of the famous d’Arenberg label, died just 10 days shy of his 96th birthday.

As The Advertiser’s Jessica Galletly reported, d’Arenberg - affectionately known as “d’Arry” - started at his family’s winery at the age of 16 and went on to launch its own wine label, with its now-famous red stripe, which eventually became an internationally-revered brand.

Friends and colleagues from the wine industry paid tribute to a man regarded as the “grandfather of McLaren Vale”.

Winemaker Stephen Pannel said d’Arry pioneered light-to-medium reds and helped to change prevailing attitudes towards grenache, which was broadly unpopular at the time.

“He’s the godfather of grenache,” Mr Pannel said.
“But not just grenache; of blends. Most people of his generation hated grenache but he championed it, so I owe him.
“It’s a sad day.”