How are you juggling everything that’s on your plate at the moment?
It has been a bit of a learning curve, but there are a lot of people on the team at Seven who have years of experience at trying to achieve balance with these schedules, and they have given me advice. It’s been a lot of travel, especially for someone who hasn’t done that much travelling before, but I am really enjoying it.
The 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo has been postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. How are you feeling about your role as a commentator?
We are keeping abreast and as up to date on everything as we can with the IOC and AOC. As a sports journalist, it’s the greatest honour and something that you dream about. It’s still sinking in, to be honest. We are all just waiting and hoping … but the safety of those involved has to be paramount.
Sports presenting is traditionally a more male-dominated job. What’s it like as a woman in this arena?
Seeing 86,000 people screaming for Australian women cricketers at the T-20 World Cup was a really big moment for me. And as a young girl growing up playing cricket,
I couldn’t see it on my screen, nor were there many female commentators. There has just
been a huge shift that we have seen in one generation. I have been afforded every opportunity and had bosses who championed me because I worked hard and not because I was male or female. Hopefully, we are getting to that point where it’s about what you bring to the table.
WATCH: House Rules: Meet Tanya and her model husband Dave
What are your thoughts on women’s sports and how they’re being covered?
I actually got a bit emotional at the T-20 World Cup. I know how hard they work and also how great they are at what they do. The fact it got recognised on the scale it truly deserves is great. People are ready to see more women’s sports on their screens and the ratings reflect that as well. For young girls, it’s so much easier to believe you can achieve when you can see it, whether that
is commentary or as an athlete.
How do you achieve work/life balance?
It’s mainly just putting in quality time with family and friends and staying connected.
I think I was married on a Friday and then back shooting House Rules on the Monday. We were going to be honeymooning around this time but thankfully we are not because of all the travel restrictions. Married life has been really lovely but given we already lived together and have a dog not much has changed. But it was a really nice celebration.
WATCH: House Rules: Meet the mum and son duo Lenore and Bradley
Read the rest of the story in this week's WHO - OUT NOW
