Women in Media Victoria's end-of-year drinks, held at Melbourne's Bard's Apothecary, proved to be a captivating evening filled with insights and entertainment, courtesy of two esteemed ABC veterans.
Mary Gearin, former ABC TV News presenter, and Belinda Hawkins, former ABC Australian Story producer, shared their remarkable experience in the industry as they reminisced about their extensive careers spanning more than three decades in international and local reporting.
Mary, a former Europe Correspondent and National Sport Correspondent, recently departed from the ABC, leaving her future career plans open. With a diverse background, she has covered global events, including terrorist attacks in France, the Eurocrisis, four Olympics, and two Commonwealth Games. She has also worked in commercial TV and hosted programs for ABC News Breakfast and ABC Radio Melbourne.
Belinda Hawkins, who also left the ABC this year, boasts a lengthy career with Australian Story and SBS, serving as a foreign correspondent in diverse locations such as Cuba, Far East Siberia, Nigeria, Eritrea, and Germany. Her numerous awards include two Walkley Awards, three New York Film Festival World Medals, six Melbourne Press Club Quill Awards (including the Gold Quill), and four United Nations Media Peace Awards.
The event drew a vibrant crowd of around 35 Women in Media members and friends, featuring raffle prizes generously provided by Pizzini Wines, Melbourne Press Club, and Leif.
