Julie McCrossin
Encyclopedia
Julie McCrossin is an Australian radio broadcaster, journalist, comedian and campaigner for women's
and gay rights. She is best known for her role as a team captain on the news-based comedy quiz show Good News Week
between 1996 and 2000.
and has advocated the legalisation of same-sex marriage in Australia
. In 1981 she published Women, wimmin, womyn, womin, whippets-On Lesbian Separatism, a critique of some aspects of the feminist separatist movement of the day from an anarcho-feminist perspective.
McCrossin her first broadcasting job on "Gaywaves" for the community radio station 2SER. She began working for the ABC's Radio National
in 1983, initially as presenter of the women's radio program "The Coming Out Show" and later as the host of other programs, including "The Arts Show" and "Background Briefing". Between 2000 and 2005, she presented the social issues program "Life Matters", initially with Geraldine Doogue
and later as a solo presenter. In 2005, 702 ABC Sydney
chose her to replace popular host Angela Catterns
in the breakfast shift, however one month after starting McCrossin resigned for health reasons. "I found the early hours really hard and it's affected my health and despite their desire for me to stay I've made the decision that it's just not good for my health," she said.
Between 1996 and 2000, McCrossin was a weekly participant on the news-based television comedy Good News Week as captain of one of two competing teams. She was also a co-presenter of the television coverage of the 2002, 2009 and 2010 Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras
parades.
In 2009, McCrossin was named one of the 25 most influential lesbians in Australia by readers of the website samesame.com.au.
Women's rights
Women's rights are entitlements and freedoms claimed for women and girls of all ages in many societies.In some places these rights are institutionalized or supported by law, local custom, and behaviour, whereas in others they may be ignored or suppressed...
and gay rights. She is best known for her role as a team captain on the news-based comedy quiz show Good News Week
Good News Week
Good News Week is an Australian satirical panel game show hosted by Paul McDermott that initially aired from 19 April 1996 to 27 May 2000, and resumed on 11 February 2008 to 9 May 2011. The show aired first on ABC TV before it was bought by Network Ten in 1999...
between 1996 and 2000.
Personal life
Born in 1954, McCrossin grew up in Sydney. She had troubles with alcohol in her youth and describes herself as having been a "hopeless drinker" before she stopped drinking altogether at age 24. She lives with her long-term partner, Melissa Gibson, and Melissa's two children from a previous relationship.Career
McCrossin, who describes her job as "[talking] for a living", began her career in children's theatre. She was involved with the 1978 protests that became the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi GrasSydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras
The Sydney Mardi Gras is an annual LGBTQI pride parade and festival in Sydney, Australia, and draws in thousands of visitors from around Australia and overseas...
and has advocated the legalisation of same-sex marriage in Australia
Same-sex marriage in Australia
Same-sex marriages are currently not permitted under Australian federal law. In 2004 the Marriage Act 1961 was amended in federal parliament to expressly state that marriage is considered a union between a man and a woman only and that any existing same-sex marriage from a foreign country is not to...
. In 1981 she published Women, wimmin, womyn, womin, whippets-On Lesbian Separatism, a critique of some aspects of the feminist separatist movement of the day from an anarcho-feminist perspective.
McCrossin her first broadcasting job on "Gaywaves" for the community radio station 2SER. She began working for the ABC's Radio National
Radio National
ABC Radio National is an Australia-wide non-commercial radio network run by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation.Radio National broadcasts national programming in areas that include news and current affairs, the arts, social issues, science, drama and comedy...
in 1983, initially as presenter of the women's radio program "The Coming Out Show" and later as the host of other programs, including "The Arts Show" and "Background Briefing". Between 2000 and 2005, she presented the social issues program "Life Matters", initially with Geraldine Doogue
Geraldine Doogue
Dr Geraldine Doogue AO is an Australian journalist and radio and television host.Doogue was the host of Radio National's Life Matters program for 11 years. She received a United Nations Media Peace Prize and two Penguin Awards for her role in ABC TV's coverage of the Gulf War...
and later as a solo presenter. In 2005, 702 ABC Sydney
702 ABC Sydney
702 ABC Sydney is an ABC radio station in Sydney, Australia. It is the flagship station in the ABC Local Radio network and broadcasts on 702 kHz on the AM dial....
chose her to replace popular host Angela Catterns
Angela Catterns
-Early career:Catterns began her radio career at Lismore's local station 2LM, followed by several years in Orange working at CBN8 TV.She then returned to her native Sydney after working as a sound recordist on a documentary shot in Papua New Guinea....
in the breakfast shift, however one month after starting McCrossin resigned for health reasons. "I found the early hours really hard and it's affected my health and despite their desire for me to stay I've made the decision that it's just not good for my health," she said.
Between 1996 and 2000, McCrossin was a weekly participant on the news-based television comedy Good News Week as captain of one of two competing teams. She was also a co-presenter of the television coverage of the 2002, 2009 and 2010 Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras
Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras
The Sydney Mardi Gras is an annual LGBTQI pride parade and festival in Sydney, Australia, and draws in thousands of visitors from around Australia and overseas...
parades.
In 2009, McCrossin was named one of the 25 most influential lesbians in Australia by readers of the website samesame.com.au.
External links
- Official website
- Selection of columns from the Australian Financial Review