Bill McDonald (born 1967) is an Australian journalist and news presenter.
Bill McDonald | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1967 |
| Occupation | News presenter & journalist |
| Spouse | Julianne |
| Children | 4 |
| Website | Bill McDonald profile |
Career
editPreviously McDonald had been a sports presenter but was promoted to news presenter when Geoff Mullins left Ten News.[1] He was also a sports presenter on Seven News.
In the summer of January 2010, McDonald presented Ten Early News, Ten Morning News and Ten Weekend News from Sydney.[citation needed]
In 2011, McDonald continued to present 10 News First Queensland and also continued to be the Queensland AFL ground commentator for Ten's national AFL coverage, mainly for matches involving the Brisbane Lions.[citation needed]
McDonald is active in other media and events in Brisbane. He broadcasts daily AFL reports on the Macquarie Southern Cross national radio network daily, as well as his Friday footy tips on Sunshine Coast's 92.7 Mix FM. He's a regular MC at functions and in 2010 was appointed as the Queensland Rugby Club's corporate lunch host until 2012.[citation needed] McDonald has also commentated AFL for Triple M Radio Network and NIRS.[2]
In November 2012, McDonald resigned from Network Ten.[3]
In January 2013, McDonald joined the Seven Network and started co-presenting Seven News from Sunday to Thursday with Sharyn Ghidella.[4]
In 2015, Bill co-hosted a documentary while crossing the Kokoda Track in Papua New Guinea, while also filing news reports and live crosses from the jungle along the way. He has completed numerous charity bike rides, runs and even his first marathon on the Gold Coast in 2016 at the age of 49.[citation needed]
In March 2018, McDonald left the Seven Network, to concentrate on network sport and building his own media business billmcdonald.com.au.[5]
For several years, McDonald was a member of the Triple M Radio AFL commentary team up until 2016. Prior to that he also commentated on NIRS and prior to that local AFLQ Grand Finals for Channel 7 in the early 1990s.[citation needed]
Since 2020, McDonald has presented various programs including 11am, Weekend Breakfast and Mornings on Brisbane commercial radio station 4BC. Since taking over from Ray Hadley as the host of 4BC Mornings in September 2023, his Executive Producer has been Siobhain O’Donnell.[citation needed]
Personal life
editMcDonald was married to wife Julianne; in mid 2010 she gave birth to the couple's fourth boy. Julianne divorced Bill. Julianne, after being cared for by her friends, died in November 2023 following a battle with cancer.[6]
References
edit- ^ "Brad off to Brissey". The Age. 15 December 2003.
- ^ McDonald joins Triple M's AFL call Archived 9 March 2018 at the Wayback Machine, radioinfo, 29 March 2007. Retrieved 9 March 2018.
- ^ Crane, Kris; Swanwick, Tristan Bill McDonald leaves Channel Ten to take up a role at rival Channel 7, leaving the station with a female news anchor Georgie Lewis, Herald Sun, 25 November 2012. Retrieved 9 March 2018.
- ^ Cooper, Nathanael (19 January 2013). "Fresh news faces in Seven heaven". The Courier-Mail. Retrieved 19 January 2013.
- ^ Knox, David (9 March 2018). "Bill McDonald to exit Seven News". TV Tonight. Retrieved 9 March 2018.
- ^ "4BC radio host Bill McDonald mourning the loss of wife Julianne after 30-year marriage". news.com.au. 2 November 2023. Retrieved 3 March 2024.