Stella Young, writer, comedian and disability activist dies
Prominent disability activist, writer and comedian Stella Young has died aged 32. Ms Young was the former editor of the ABC’s disability news and opinion website, Ramp up. Her family said she passed away on Sunday.
“With great sadness we acknowledge the passing of Stella Young, our much loved and irreplaceable daughter and sister,” the family said in a statement. “A private funeral will take place soon, followed by a public event in Melbourne, with more details to come. “Our loss is a deeply personal one. We request privacy during this difficult time.”
Ms Young was born in Stawell, in country Victoria, with Osteogenesis imperfecta. She studied to become a teacher, before beginning a career in journalism.
Read tributes to Stella from the ABC’s Mark Scott and Wendy Harmer.
In a letter to her 80 year old self she wrote in the Sydney Morning Herald:
But on my path to reach you, I promise to grab every opportunity with both hands, to say yes as often as I can, to take risks, to scare myself stupid, and to have a shitload of fun.
