The esteemed journalist and television host bid farewell during her last broadcast this evening, her voice tinged with emotion.
“Since I announced my departure, I’ve been deeply moved and overwhelmed by the messages I’ve received,” she conveyed in a heartfelt note to her audience.
“Your kindness, support, and goodwill are especially meaningful in these uncertain times,” she continued.
“So, thank you. I will miss you all, but I’m incredibly grateful to have been part of something that makes saying goodbye so difficult.”
She concluded with, “That’s Nine News for this Friday. I’m Georgie Gardner, thank you for joining us, enjoy your evening, and goodnight.”
To mark the occasion, Sydney’s 6 p.m. bulletin wrapped up with a three-minute montage celebrating Gardner’s years at Nine.
“I’m blown away and watching that reel is a reminder of what hideous hair I’ve had over the years,” she joked.
“But also how much fun I’ve had and of course covering the news, the pace and the complexity of the news cycle and how delivering it to you has been just such an enormous privilege for close to 25 years.
“From that minute Brian Henderson welcomed me into the 6pm studio it has never been lost on me that this role comes with duty.
“A duty to be accurate, impartial, and informative, but also to be human and sincere and respectful.”
“To be a guest in your home or wherever your viewing space might be is never taken for granted and I think you for investing your trust.”
Gardner began her career with a radio cadetship at Radio 2NX in Newcastle in 1992.
She moved to Sydney to read the news at 2Day FM in 1994.
She also worked as a television news reporter and fill-in presenter at multiple networks before she joined Nine in July 2002.
After starting at 9News presenting 6pm weekday weather with Brian Henderson and reading the Morning news, Gardner joined the Today Show in 2007 as newsreader and fill-in host – a role she held until 2014.
In 2018 she rejoined the Today Show as host for two years.
For the better part of 17 years, Gardner has anchored 9News Sydney’s 6pm weekend bulletin.
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