‘Incredible’ former ABC star Jan Deane has died at the age of 70

A former ABC newsreader has been remembered as an ‘incredible journalist’ with a ‘strong voice for country communities’ after she died at the age of 70.

A former ABC newsreader has been remembered as an “incredible journalist” after news of her death broke.

Jan Deane, who worked as a journalist across Victoria for 20 years, has died at the age of 70.

Ms Deane was a regional radio host at 3SR before moving to work at Shepparton, Bendigo, Ballarat and Melbourne as an ABC newsreader and journalist.

Former ABC Victoria host Jan Dean has died . Picture: Facebook

Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan shared the tragic news on social media late Wednesday night.

“You may not know her name, but so many of us in regional Victoria would instantly recognise the voice of Jan Deane,” Ms Allan wrote on social media.

“Jan was an incredible journalist — a Shepparton girl who I first met when she was reading the news for Bendigo’s own 3BO.

“She clocked up an impressive 20 years at the ABC, leaving the Melbourne newsroom to tell the stories of her own community in Shepparton.”

Ms Allan thanked Ms Deane for being a “strong voice for country communities”.

“Jan was passionate about regional Victoria and the issues that matter to regional Victorians,” Ms Allan wrote.

“My heart goes out to her family, friends and colleagues.

“Thank you Jan, for being such a strong voice for country communities.”

9NEWS executive producer Brendan Stafford commented under Ms Allan’s tribute, calling Ms Deane’s death a “very sad loss”.

“Jan Deane was a dedicated journalist and a wonderful person. A very sad loss,” he wrote.

Victorian Country Hour presenter Warwick Long, a former colleague of Ms Deane, said his “heart aches” following the news.

“My heart aches today. We lost a great one who sat next to me in ABC Shepparton for years,” he wrote in a tribute on social media.

“A beautiful singing voice, a sly sense of humour and an eye for detail.

“Hosted a Shepparton TV show, read the state ABC news bulletin and loved amateur theatre.”