This is a summary of what Mary Gearin posted on X/Twitter this morning.
Some personal news: This Saturday night’s ABC News bulletin will be my last. After 30 years on and off at the ABC, I’m calling time.
Like many people, I’ve been looking at life in a new way since the pandemic and realise I want to take time to discover myself away from Aunty’s warm embrace for a while, before I work out what’s next for me in journalism and beyond.
I have loved every challenging, crazy, privileged moment of working for the ABC.
I specifically want to thank the audience - I’ve developed a profound sense of connection with you and for that I’m very grateful. I’m honoured to have met people from so many walks of life, across the world, and told their stories.
It’s time for me to explore other adventures, but I leave knowing ABC’s future lies safe in the hand of its critical-thinking workers, never compromising their values.
From being a wide-eyed, permed-up cadet in 1991, to becoming the ABC’s first female TV news sports presenter, a long-form specialist for a decade on 730, Europe Correspondent, its first National Sport Correspondent, & for the past 5 years News presenter and senior journalist in Melbourne - it’s been a rich and stimulating stint working alongside some of the best humans on the planet.
I’m considering various opportunities, but if you’re in need of a journalist- communicator- presenter- strategist- analyst with a focus on community connection and public accountability, decades of contacts and insights, with a side order of puns, hit me up!
Sad to see Mary leaving a big loss to the ABC after all these years.
Ishkandar Razak or Bridget Rollason might replace her.
No news on who has replaced Jeremy on weekends in Sydney or weekends in Brisbane ever since Jessica moved into weeknights? There’s certainly a pattern here.
A tough day for ABC Canberra as four senior legends, Craig Allen, Narda Gilmore, Susan McDonald & Greg Nelson (not pictured) say goodbye for the final time, taking more than 8 decades experience with them 📺 📻 pic.twitter.com/COsPrDntWg
Looks like Lydia Feng has been appointed to Jeremy Fernandez’s old Fri/Sat 7pm NSW bulletin presenter and back up weeknight role. She does a great job presenting too.
Mary Gearin’s final news bulletin is now available on iView.
Mary was quite emotional when she made the farewell speech after reading the weather. At the end of the bulletin her family came to the desk and presented her with flowers.
Quite the contrary with quite a lot of foreigners who moved out of China during COVID all moving back and foreign citizens with Chinese background all going back and forth.
Interesting nonetheless to see a report into Xinjiang when it’s been one of the most secluded regions of China even before COVID.
ABC journalist and presenter Iskhandar Razak is taking over the Weekend Presenter role on ABC Victoria Weekend 7PM News.
Iskhandar replaces Mary Gearin, who recently left the ABC after an award-winning career spanning three decades.
Already a familiar face to Victorian audiences as a fill-in presenter of the weekend news, Iskhandar said he was delighted to be taking on the role permanently.
“Victoria is an amazing place and Victorians are amazing people,” he said. “I really love our audience and our community.
“I’m truly honoured to be given this opportunity. It is a tremendous privilege and responsibility.”
ABC News Director Justin Stevens said Iskhandar would be a great successor to Mary Gearin.
“Iskhandar is an experienced journalist and an accomplished newsreader,” he said.
“We’re excited to see him step into this role and we know he will continue to excel.”
ABOUT ISKHANDAR RAZAK
Iskhandar Razak has been a journalist for 15 years. He has worked for the ABC in South Australia, the Northern Territory, and for the past decade in Victoria.
Since 2016, he has worked in the Melbourne newsroom as a reporter, presenter and producer, covering a range of issues and topics in Victoria and internationally for television, radio and online.
Iskhandar has also worked as a fill-in presenter on ABC News Breakfast, 774 ABC local radio and The World.
Dan Bourchier is one of the four nominees for 2024 ACT Australian of the Year. The ACT winners will be announced via a live stream on Monday, October 30 at 6pm AEDT.
