As some of you may have heard, our colleague and friend Melissa Holroyd passed away Monday, January 26th, after a long struggle with cancer. 

At 14:45, she quietly embarked on her final journey, with her loved ones close by. 

Melissa was born in Griffith, Australia, in the northwest region of New South Wales, on an onion farm. She was the youngest of seven children and shared a bed with two of her sisters. The family later moved to Canberra where her father worked for the Federal Police Force. Melissa was an avid bike rider and loved family holidays to the beach, spending hours exploring the tide pools.

Melissa emigrated to Berlin about 23 years ago. She has acted professionally, appearing on stage and screen. These performance skills served her well as she embarked on her career at Deutsche Welle. She began as a speaker for News and Adaption, eventually joining Arts and Culture as a reporter and on-air correspondent. Melissa was known as a team player, and appreciated by her colleagues for her commitment and humor.

Melissa is survived by her son Sam and her partner Rolli. She will be interred in her native Australia. A “Celebration of Life” memorial will be held in Berlin in the spring. We will keep you all posted.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to help cover expenses for her son, Sammy.

We are grateful for any amount you feel able to give, and truly appreciate your support.