User:Vbarberini/Geoff Field (newsreader)

Geoff Field, born 11 May 1961 in Arncliffe NSW, is a newsreader on Sydney radio station 2DAY-FM. He can also be heard nationally on The Dirt on the Southern Cross Austereo network, and seen regularly on Kerri-Anne on Channel 9.

Earlier career
Geoff began his news reading career at the tender age of 16 on radio 2ST in Nowra, on the NSW South Coast, where his mother used to drive him to work each day.

Geoff’s natural abilities as a newsreader were quickly recognised and he moved to Sydney where he worked for 2SM and 2UW, before taking a job at the city’s leading news-talk station 2GB. He remained there for 8 years presenting the news for Ita Butrose, Derrin Hinch, and radio legend (the late) John Pearce, among others.

More recently
Geoff has covered many of the biggest news stories of our time – including the trial of the Anita Cobby murderers, death of Princes Diana, the impeachment of President Clinton, and the election of John Howard as Prime Minister of Australia.

In 1997 Geoff joined Austereo’s 2MMM-FM as news editor for The Andrew Denton Show. He quickly assumed an on-air profile on sister station 2DAY-FM reading news for Wendy Harmer and other top rating shows.

Geoff was invited to become newsreader for The Kyle & Jackie O Show in 2004. At this point in his life Geoff made the firm decision not to hide his sexuality, and while never officially outing himself, he is proud to be known as the first openly gay newsreader on Australian radio.

Geoff appeared on the The Kyle & Jackie O Show until 2010, and his role called on him to do more than just read the news – amongst other things he read news while parachuting from a plane at 10,000 feet and while being dangled above a shark tank! In 2006 the long running “Scare Geoff” segment saw him dumped in the middle of the Australian desert from where he broadcast his humorous, exciting and sometimes poignant attempts to get home.

In 2005, 2006, 2007 and 2008 Geoff was a finalist in the category of Best FM Newsreader in the Australian Commercial Radio Association Awards.

In 2007 Geoff was invited to appear on Mornings With Kerri-Anne on the national Nine Network. The show’s producers quickly recognised his appeal and scheduled him for regular appearances on the programme.

In 2010 Geoff started presenting Drive news on 2DAY-FM during the Hamish & Andy Show. He also began contributing to the nationally broadcast celebrity and gossip show The Dirt on the Austereo network.

2011 saw Geoff continue presenting his innovative news in the new Fifi & Jules drive show. Geoff can be heard every weekday on Drive on 2DAY-FM; Monday to Thursday with Fifi & Jules, and on Fridays with Hamish & Andy. He can also be heard nationally on The Dirt, and seen regularly on Kerri-Anne on Channel 9.

Charity work
Geoff is a great believer in helping the community in practical ways. He freely offers his services to numerous charities – speaking at community-based events, hosting fundraisers and contributing to mentoring programmes for young gay and lesbian people.

In 2006 Geoff was the focus of a calendar, the proceeds from the sale of which went to The Bobby Goldsmith Foundation, helping those people living with HIV. Geoff assists The Bobby Goldsmith Foundation at many of their fundraising events throughout the year.

Every August Geoff helps raise funds for the Miracle Babies charity by running in the City to Surf event.

Geoff has also hosted the hugely successful Black Tie For Breast Cancer fundraiser for The Prince Of Wales Hospital. And he has lent his profile to Mission Australia’s Hush For Homelessness TV advertising campaign.

Private life
In December 2005 Geoff married Jason, his long time partner, in a service broadcast nationally on the Austereo network and Channel 7’s Sunrise programme. Geoff hopes that by doing so many of the myths about gay people were dispelled. Geoff and Jason received over 20,000 emails of congratulations. Geoff lives in Sydney with his husband Jason where they tend daily to a flock of lorikeets that visit their balcony every day.