Simone Thurtell
Simone Thurtell was a presenter for the Australian Broadcasting Corporation's ABC Local Radio's Grandstand program.
She formerly shared the hosting of the summer Grandstand program with others including Karen Tighe, Tracy Holmes and Peter Walsh and was also the ABC's around-the-ground reporter during international cricket matches played at the SCG. She is probably best known for her Grandstand Active Show which featured regular guests from Kerry O'Keeffe, Geoff Huegill and Al Baxter among others and covered the sporting issues of the day, overnight scores and live crosses to sport. Thurtell also took the programme to the people with many outside broadcasts across NSW and Queensland.
Simone's career began in TV news journalism for Prime in Canberra and then freelancing for NBN in Newcastle before joining the ABC. Initially she worked for ABC TV Sport, before switching into the ABC Radio Grandstand team. She called many sports, particularly Netball, including Australia's Gold medal campaign in the World Championships in Singapore in 2011. She also commentated a variety of sports at the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games, including the Gold Medal for Beach Volley Ball, won by Australia's pair of Natalie Cook and Kerri Pottharst.
In 2009, Thurtell returned to host ABC Local Radio's Grandstand program after previously presenting Drive on 1233 ABC Newcastle in 2007 and 2008. During this time she was a key anchor during the 2007 Newcastle floods, for which the 1233 team won a Walkley Award. Thurtell described firsthand the grounding of the Pasha Bulker on Nobby's Beach and the rescue from the ship of the crew. Later she was on hand to provide information and direct assistance during the ensuing floods across the Hunter and in Newcastle itself.
Her impressive list of events included the 2000 Sydney Olympics, 2004 Athens Olympics, 2008 Beijing Olympic Games, 2002 Melbourne Commonwealth Games, 2006 New Delhi Commonwealth Games.
She also provides commentary of international netball test matches, also calling the Gold medal netball match at the 2006 Commonwealth Games.
She matriculated from Santa Sabina College.
See also