Wow! Award winning, highly experienced journalist,Toni McRae , who worked in Darwin for a short time, has written a stunning autobiography. The Iran-Iraq war , her stormy second marriage to criminal lawyer , Jack Birney, who became a Liberal Party politician , dressing Alan Jones in a skirt , hiding Lord Snowdon when his marriage break up with Princess Margaret was announced and the Qantas Bomber case - are all there. And much, much more.
Toni started off as a precocious schoolgirl in New Zealand with a burning desire to write who interviewed celebrities dressed in her school tunic, on one assignment escaping the clutches of a singer whose father was a famous dustman. In New Zealand she became a household name , interviewing many celebrities, then moved to Australia,where she went from strength to strength in the tough media world. A blonde bombshell, strangely called "Butch" by her editor, she made a big impact reporting Canberra and NSW politics.
Her fame spread when she wrote exclusive articles about the romantic relationship between Junie Morosi and Treasurer Dr Jim Cairns . There is much surprising content about Australian politicians in the book, including speculation about who may have been with Billy Snedden the night he died. She also co-wrote,with Jim Carey, Andrew Peacock's biography. A series she wrote won two United Nations Association Media Peace Awards for the promotion of Aboriginal Reconcilation .
Toni makes pertinent comments about modern media, the treatment of older women in journalism, and is working on another epic book which will also create tremendous interest. EXPOSE Scandals, Stars and Scoops, illustrated,230pp, published by Zeus Publications , Burleigh, Queensland .
Toni started off as a precocious schoolgirl in New Zealand with a burning desire to write who interviewed celebrities dressed in her school tunic, on one assignment escaping the clutches of a singer whose father was a famous dustman. In New Zealand she became a household name , interviewing many celebrities, then moved to Australia,where she went from strength to strength in the tough media world. A blonde bombshell, strangely called "Butch" by her editor, she made a big impact reporting Canberra and NSW politics.
Her fame spread when she wrote exclusive articles about the romantic relationship between Junie Morosi and Treasurer Dr Jim Cairns . There is much surprising content about Australian politicians in the book, including speculation about who may have been with Billy Snedden the night he died. She also co-wrote,with Jim Carey, Andrew Peacock's biography. A series she wrote won two United Nations Association Media Peace Awards for the promotion of Aboriginal Reconcilation .
The autobiography includes three chapters by another well known Kiwi reporter, Les Wilson, who worked at the NT News when Jim Bowditch was the editor in the tin bank building. One of these tells how he turned down the offer to buy part of a struggling pop group, The Rolling Stones, for 500 pounds when he was working in London. The others relate to the "Dead Beatle " and Elvis Presley.
Toni makes pertinent comments about modern media, the treatment of older women in journalism, and is working on another epic book which will also create tremendous interest. EXPOSE Scandals, Stars and Scoops, illustrated,230pp, published by Zeus Publications , Burleigh, Queensland .
