VISIONARY: Jan Mitchell's Baywalk Bollards are a fitting tribute to her talents...
APPRECIATION OF JAN MITCHELL
Appreciation of Jan Mitchell by former RTÉ Designer Jim O’ Hare
The artist Jan Mitchell, who was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia last year, died on St Patrick's Day 17th March 2008, in the St John of God Hospital, Geelong. Victoria, Australia a few days after a serious operation.
Jan was a prominent Senior Graphic Designer for the Irish national broadcaster Radio Telefls Éireann in Dublin from 1968 to 1984. Jan was a founder member of the Society of Designers in Ireland. She is survived by her sister Margaret and brother Jimmy, her husband Quentin an RTÉ Production Designer and her three sons who were all born in Ireland, Caelon, Aman and Breckon. Jan was also Godmother to the Irish Artist Eloise O'Hare.
While living in Sandymount Jan and Quentin were actively involved in several Dublin Theatre Festival productions, setting up a folk museum in Kilfenora, The Castlebar International Song Contest and the Lambert Puppet Theatre with Eugene and Mai Lambert.
Jan is from Healsville near Melbourne, her parents were Australian cricketing legends, her uncle was the Australian Cricket Captain Lindsey Hassett, and her mother Elsie toured England with the Australian Ladies Cricket Team In the 1930s.
Jan's latest sculptures are an amazing tourist attraction and can be seen on permanent display at 'The Bay Walk Bollards" which represent an affectionate history of Corio Bay, Geelong.