ABC staff and audiences are in mourning after the death of long-time regional radio host and respected ABC Mildura-Swan Hill and Wimmera chief-of-staff Sarah Tomlinson.
Sarah was on annual leave in South Australia with her dog Harley when she suffered a fatal anaphylactic reaction this week after a life-long battle with her health. She was 40.
Sarah started her radio career as a 14-year-old community broadcaster in her home town of Mildura on the Murray River in Victoria's Sunraysia region.
This week, Sarah's family, friends and colleagues are remembering her laughter, colourful dresses and keen wit as they reflect on her contributions to the Australian media industry.
Sarah first sat behind a microphone in 1996 as a teenaged guest host for Good Morning Country on Mildura community radio station 3HotFM.
She also drew on her trademark generosity and kindness as a volunteer for a network of radio broadcasts for the vision impaired.
Sarah went on to win various South Australian community broadcasting awards during her career, including Radio Adelaide's Favourite Presenter in 2006.
An entire generation of radio broadcasters learned the fundamentals of broadcasting from Sarah while she worked at Radio Adelaide and the University of Adelaide.
She was an accredited trainer of more than 1,000 broadcasters, many of whom have gone on to pursue successful careers in the media.
Sarah joined the ABC's Port Pirie office in 2013 and there was nothing she loved more than venturing out into small, remote communities and getting to know the people she interviewed.
She spent the last four years working as the chief of staff in her home patch of Mildura in Victoria's Sunraysia region.
ABC staff from Sarah's teams in Horsham, Mildura and Swan Hill gathered in Ouyen to remember their friend and colleague and were buoyed by the support of the community.
As they arrived in town at the bakery the community opened up the Roxy Theatre, where Sarah had visited and hosted events many times, to allow her colleagues to sit and reflect on her life.
Sarah's cousin and ABC colleague Kimberley Price said Sarah was a natural mentor and was always an advocate for her staff and her patch.
"Her life was full, her jokes were hilarious and cringey and her voice had that beautiful husk," Price said.
"She was everyone's cheerleader … I will miss her everything."
ABC acting director of Regional and Local Hugh Martin has extended the ABC's condolences to Sarah's family and friends.
"Tributes to Sarah from across the entire organisation are a testament to her work as a radio broadcaster and regional leader," he said.
"She is greatly missed."
