Well, it’s happened again.
Last night Sandra Sully signed off from the Late News on Channel 10, for what seems to this time be the last time. Recent changes within the newsroom at the network have meant that the show is being retired with no replacement scheduled. Sully will instead be joining the Ten News Sydney 5pm bulletin team (again alongside McEwan and Bill Woods) and reading there 5 nights a week – at least allowing her the benefits of her evenings to herself and her new husband. Incumbent reader Deborah Knight is widely tipped to join the new morning program Breakfast alongside Andrew Rochford.
It was a jovial sign off from the newsreader, with a hint of sadness. “I really have loved every minute of it. It’s been a great ride. An end of an era for us, we know it is for you too. Good night.” After 18 years at the desk Sully the team have seen some massive global events occur in real time, the biggest surely being the breaking news of the horrific events of September 11, 2001. The first moments came through mid bulletin and Sandra and the team went on into the wee hours broadcasting the news as it came off the satellite.
A consummate professional, Sandra Sully will be missed by the many nightowls that depended on her and Ch10 to deliver the news with personality.
I was watching 10 Late News when the first reports of the WTC attacks came through. The professionalism that Sandra handled it all was more than impressive. She will be missed reading late night news.