A Journey of Resilience and Ambition
Georgie Tunny has come a long way from her early days as a cadet journalist. As a newsreader, podcaster, radio host, and now an author, she has built a career that many would only dream of. But her path hasn’t always been smooth. In fact, one particular moment in her past still stands out as a defining experience.
Speaking to a media outlet ahead of the release of her debut novel, Over To You, Georgie reflects on a time when she felt completely overwhelmed. She was preparing to present a national bulletin when an off-air conversation left her in a state of doubt. Her anxiety didn’t go unnoticed by a TV anchor, who asked if everything was okay. The emotional response that followed was something Georgie still recalls vividly.
“I burst into tears and fled the newsroom,” Georgie remembers. “At the time, I was probably in my mid-twenties, and I was that person who was hungry for the next thing. I was so driven. But just before I had to deliver the news bulletin, I was having a discussion with my bosses about where I thought I was at in my career. My boss, in reply, was like: ‘That’s not where you’re at.’ It didn’t go well, and I didn’t take it well.”
Looking back on this moment, Georgie says, “There’s still part of me that, rightly or wrongly, backs myself in that conversation. But I have the knowledge that I was definitely impatient [laughs].”
The Inspiration Behind Over To You
This unsettling moment planted a seed in Georgie’s mind, which eventually grew into her debut novel, Over To You. The fictional story follows three best friends vying to fulfill their dream of becoming a TV presenter. However, in a cut-throat industry, they must stand out, often putting their morals to the test.
“The book is fiction but is based on this universal feeling of things not being exactly what you want them to be – and the overwhelm that comes with that,” she explains. “I loved reading and writing growing up – it was my escape and brought me to this field. So, to channel this idea and finish it as well, I feel proud.”
Georgie’s work has already caught the attention of notable figures in the industry. Former ABC News Breakfast host Lisa Millar was one of the first people to read the book. “She’s brilliant, so accomplished and can see right through me,” Georgie says. “She’s my first port of call for career stuff.”
A Wild Career Path
Georgie’s career has been anything but linear. From presenting on ABC’s News Breakfast and 10’s The Project, to replacing Chris Bath as the anchor of the 10 News weekend bulletin, her journey has been nothing short of wild.
“It’s a role that the baby journalist who ran out of that newsroom could only have dreamt of,” she says. “I wouldn’t say I’m a traditional newsreader, and at different points in my career, it’s been seen as a negative thing. But the moment I fully embraced that side of me and what I could bring to this space is when my career took off.”
Like many Australians, Georgie is still grieving the end of The Project in 2025. Having built much of her fan base through that show, its cancellation brought feelings of self-doubt.
“I would say I’m someone who’s intrinsically linked to my career, for better or worse, and when it got cancelled, I lost a part of myself,” she says. “The Project was everything I wanted to do, so for that to disappear, it took me a little bit. I just had to breathe.”
As fate would have it, Georgie was already deep into writing her book, and a few months later, she was asked to join 10 News and 10 News+. “It’s a wonderful reminder that nothing is linear,” she says with a smile.
Love and Life Beyond the Spotlight
Georgie’s personal life has also taken some unexpected turns. Her relationship with actor and singer Rob Mills has been a source of joy and challenge. A self-proclaimed fangirl, Georgie was aware of Rob’s status from watching him on Australian Idol in 2003.
“Idol was maybe one of the first introductions to fandoms, and he was one of my favourites. I even got an Idol karaoke machine for Christmas one year.”
Many years later, with some nudging from mutual friends, including journalist Abbey Gelmi, Rob “slid into my DMs” and the pair hit it off. With a wedding on the horizon, the couple just needs to work on being in the same state. With Rob performing on stage around the country and Georgie working across multiple platforms, the duo is living very different timetables.
“It’s been one of the most challenging times for us because we’re so busy and our schedules don’t align,” Georgie says. “But he’s my favourite person on earth.”
While a collaboration could be in the works one day (and keep them in the same place), Georgie says it won’t take place on the stage: “No, I shall not be making my theatre debut!” she laughs. “I absolutely cannot dance or act!”
Over To You by Georgie Tunny is available now in bookstores. The 10 News weekend bulletin airs Saturday and Sunday 5pm on 10.
