Deborah Elizabeth Spillane AM (born 25 December 1955) is an Australian sports journalist and commentator.
Debbie Spillane | |
|---|---|
| Born | Deborah Elizabeth Spillane 25 December 1955 Sydney, New South Wales, Australia |
| Nationality | Australian |
| Education | Bethlehem College, Ashfield |
| Alma mater | University of Sydney |
| Occupation | Sports journalist |
| Years active | 1984–present |
Early life and education
editSpillane was born in Sydney, and was educated at Bethlehem College, Ashfield and received a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Sydney.[1]
Media career
editIn 1984, she joined the Australian Broadcasting Corporation as a sports commentator and reporter, and was the first full-time female broadcaster hired by ABC Sport.[2] In the same year was sent as a reporter to the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, and two years later to the 1986 Commonwealth Games in Edinburgh. She was a sideline reporter for ABC's rugby league coverage, and was the first woman to commentate cricket on ABC Radio.[3] In 1987 she was a judge on ABC's Theatre Sports.[4]
From 1990 to 1995, Spillane co-hosted the drive time program Hard Coffee with Ian Rogerson for Triple J. Around the same time, she was a regular panelist on Andrew Denton's Live and Sweaty program from 1991 to 1994.[1][5]
In 1995, Spillane left the ABC and became the media manager of the Bulldogs national rugby league team. She continued in several sports/media-related endeavours including as media manager of the West Sydney Razorbacks basketball team; as a sports columnist for The Sun-Herald and The Australian; and on the radio stations 2GB, 2Day FM, New FM, KICK AM and 2BL.[1]
In 2002, she returned to the ABC as part of the broadcasting team for ABC NewsRadio, and in 2012 became the host of ABC Radio's Grandstand program.[3]
She was awarded 2017 Australian Sports Commission Media Award for Lifetime Achievement.[6]
On 12 December 2021, Spillane was inducted to the Sydney Cricket Ground Media Hall of Honour, alongside 11 others added to the inaugural 15 media personalities who were celebrated in 2014.[7]
Bibliography
editIn 2007, Allen & Unwin published Spillane's autobiography, titled Where Do You Think You're Goin', Lady?: Adventures of a Sports-mad Redhead.[8]
References
edit- ^ a b c Who's Who in Australia 2016, ConnectWeb.
- ^ "ABC: Another Budget Cut". Chaser (Glebe, NSW : 1999 - 2005). 9 January 2004. p. 16. Retrieved 17 August 2018 – via Trove.
- ^ a b Debbie Spillane, ABC Grandstand.
- ^ Anderson, Doug (2 February 1987), "Theatre Sports", The Sydney Morning Herald
- ^ "BEST BET". Canberra Times (ACT : 1926 - 1995). 15 March 1993. p. 8. Retrieved 17 August 2018.
- ^ "Spillane honoured with ASC's Lifetime Achievement Award". Australian Sports Commission. Retrieved 6 February 2018.
- ^ "Second induction to SCG Media Hall of Honour". Sydney Cricket Ground. 12 December 2021. Retrieved 4 August 2023.
- ^ Where do you think you're goin', lady?, Allen & Unwin, 2007.