George Donikian
Moonee Ponds Ambassador
Born and raised in Sydney, George commenced his media career as an announcer with Radio station 4AM in far North Queensland in the mid 70’s before being lured back to NSW in 1977 where he hosted the Drive program on radio 2WL, Wollongong.
From there, George returned to Sydney to start work on the then new commercial radio station 2WS where he worked as an Announcer, newsreader and sports reporter.
His television career began in 1980, when a chance meeting with then TV Guru Bruce Gyngell, saw George installed as the face of multiculturalism in Australia’s revolutionary new TV station Chanel O which quickly evolved into SBS. George was the anchor in the inaugural World News Service in Melbourne and Sydney.
In late 1988, George left SBS to join the Nine Network which gave him the opportunity to work with television legend Graham Kennedy on the Coast to Coast program.
During his stint at NINE, George also hosted a number of talk back stints on radio station 2GB.
George was part of the commentary team during the 1988 State of Origin Rugby League series, as well as the Test Series between England and Australia.
In 1990, George flew to Rome to cover the World Cup Finals in Italy for both the NINE network and Sydney radio.
1991 saw George cross the continent to join Network 10 in Adelaide where he has been the main Anchor for the past 18 years.
Among his many career highlights:
- An original member, on the Immigration Review Panel, set up by then Federal Minster Ian McPhee in the 80’s.
- A reporter, on the 3 network coverage of the Bi-centennial celebrations, called 'Celebration of a Nation’ 1988.
- Narrator and star of the documentary drama Which Hunt, which won an AFI Award in 1985