Anna Buck, artist, writer and long-time contributor to the Bega District News, has died peacefully at home following a short battle with cancer.
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Many will be familiar with Ms Buck’s weekly Annagram column documenting family life at Rocky Hall/Wyndham and later North Bega, and the “misadventures” of the Moth (Man of the house).
Annagram was published every week for 30 years and only stopped in recent months when illness saw Ms Buck put the pen down to focus on her recovery.
The vividly written column had its beginnings in 1988 when editor at the time Anna Glover decided she wanted something light for Friday’s readership, enlisting the help of Anna Buck and her clever sense of storytelling.
“I’ve always loved both writing and art,” Ms Buck said in an interview for the BDN's special 150th anniversary edition in 2015.
“I thought I could allow people to read about other’s misfortunes in a lighthearted manner.
“My husband is a perpetual source of entertainment for me.
“The world has changed a lot since we started, but in other aspects it hasn’t – I had no idea I would still be writing it 30 years on.”
The column became extremely popular with readers, winning the EC Sommerlad Memorial Award for Journalism for both 1989-90 and 1992.
The multi-talented Ms Buck also had poetry published in national journals, and a popular children’s book titled Dragon’s Dance.
She was also an exhibited painter, depicting life in the Bega Valley much in the same vein as with her writing over the years.
Spiral Gallery in Bega recently exhibited a collection of Ms Buck's work inspired by the Bega River.
Ms Buck died peacefully at home, where she wanted to be, looking over the mountains and rivers that have provided her such enjoyment and inspiration.
“On behalf of all the team at the Bega District News – past and present – we offer our sincere condolences to Bob and family,” editor Ben Smyth said.
“She was a wonderful person and much loved by readers and the community for her vivid writings and art.
“Anna will be truly missed.”
A funeral service for Anna Buck is to be held at the Clavering Park Crematorium, Wolumla, at 11am on Friday, November 2.