Tributes flow for beloved Australian director following her death: ‘You left the world better’

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People are sharing heartfelt messages after the passing of Australian writer and director Amanda Brotchie, who died this week after a battle with cancer.

Amanda has directed and co-written several successful projects, including the ABC series ‘Lowdown’ with her husband, Adam Zwar. She also directed the 2018 remake of ‘Picnic At Hanging Rock,’ and has worked on British shows like ‘Doctor Who,’ ‘Renegade Nell,’ and ‘Riot Women’.

On Friday, Adam shared the sad news of Amanda’s passing on Instagram, posting a collection of photos from her life.

‘I’m so sad to tell you that today we lost our beautiful Amanda,’ Adam wrote.

Many of you likely know her work as a director, including shows like Doctor Who, Gentleman Jack, Lowdown (which she also developed), Renegade Nell, and Riot Women. Beyond directing, she also held a doctorate in linguistics and was a member of the influential 1980s band, Not Drowning, Waving.

As Adam continued speaking at the memorial service, he fondly recalled his wife’s unwavering dedication to her family and friends, emphasizing that they were always her top priority.

Honestly, seeing her friends and family thrive was everything to her. If you were lucky enough to be close to her, you always knew she was genuinely thrilled by your achievements, and you felt incredibly loved. That’s just the kind of person she was.

Adam fondly remembered how he and Amanda first met, a moment that began their incredible 23-year journey together.

I’ll never forget the first time I met Amanda. We just clicked, and talked for hours! I immediately thought she was the type of person who everyone loved, and I was right – she really did get along with anyone. But what surprised me most was discovering she actually enjoyed talking to me too. It was a really special feeling.

Adam continued, telling her how much he would miss her love, her cheerful laugh, her adventurous spirit, and her courage. He fondly remembered how she would carefully and gently guide spiders and snakes outside, even though he was afraid of them and would hide.

Your cooking, like your writing and directing, was beautifully balanced, seemed completely effortless, and had a delicate finesse.

I’ll really miss your cooking – especially the dhal, roast chicken, chilli, and chocolate mousse. I’ll also miss our cozy Sunday mornings, eating pancakes and watching Insiders together.

Adam concluded with a touching farewell: ‘Goodbye, beautiful soul. You made the world a brighter place, and it feels emptier without you.’

The post received a lot of supportive messages from friends and fans, including actor Patrick Brammall, known for his role in ‘Colin From Accounts’.

Patrick wrote to Adam, expressing his deep sadness and sympathy. He described the woman they were discussing as amazing and found comfort in knowing she had faced the end of her life with acceptance. He added that she would always be a source of inspiration for him.

Kate Mulvaney, known for her role in Hunters, expressed her sadness, saying, ‘My deepest sympathies, Adam. Amanda’s work will always be remembered, and I’m sending all my love to you and everyone who loved her.’

Julia Zemiro, known for her work on the show Lowdown, expressed her sadness upon hearing the news. She fondly remembered Amanda as a wonderful person and shared that she greatly enjoyed her time working on Lowdown, sending her support and love to Adam.

‘Wonderful, brilliant Amanda. Thank you for a wonderful time in front of the camera.’

Messages of sympathy and praise continued to pour in, and Russell T Davies, the showrunner for Doctor Who, also shared a tribute to Amanda on Instagram.

Oh my gosh, I just loved her on Doctor Who, and apparently everyone on set did too! Seriously, she directed these two episodes, ‘Lux’ and ‘The Well,’ and they were just… different. They needed so much detail and creativity, way more than the usual episodes, and she absolutely nailed it. It was incredible!

He also praised Amanda’s talent and tenacity, adding: ‘God, we adored her.’

She was a joy to be around! She was intelligent, warm, curious, and relentlessly worked to improve everything and everyone around her.

She could be quite critical, carefully examining the script and pointing out small issues… until we recognized she was actually correct!

The Australian Writers Guild shared their sadness about Amanda’s death in a Facebook post, saying they were ‘deeply saddened’ by the news.

Amanda was a dedicated member of the Australian Writers’ Guild and received two AWGIE Awards for the show Lowdown, which she co-created with her husband and writing partner, Adam Zwar.

We are deeply saddened by Amanda’s passing and extend our sincerest sympathy to her husband, Adam, as well as her friends, coworkers, and family.

Screen Producers Australia expressed their sadness, saying Amanda significantly impacted the screen industry. She was well-respected for her creativity, kindness, dedication to telling stories, and the strong connections she built with others in the field.

 

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2025-12-20 07:49