Death of leading arts publicist, 52

Everyone who worked with the arts in Australia knew Ree Izett.

Ree was queen of the Melbourne scene for 20 years, as publicist for seven Melbourne Festivals and later as director of corporate communications at Arts Centre Melbourne.

Its former artistic administrator David Barmby writes: ‘You would typically find Ree at her desk typing like a mad person, the telephone ringing with calls on hold, two assistants on the boil, a launch to organise by noon and a crisis to hose down.  Always dressed in jet black – the moment garments faded from jet black they were discarded – and with short black hair and glasses, when she was in transit she walked fast wheeling an overnight bag of work behind her.  She did so much for the Arts in Melbourne.  But, most importantly, at the end of the day she was as true, kind and loyal a colleague you could ever hope for.’

A New Zealander by birth, she also worked for the Adelaide festival and as an indy PR. Ree, who has died of cervical cancer, is widely mourned.