Georgia Loney
Bunbury, WA
Georgia came to the ABC back in 2013, making the shift to radio after spending more than seven years as a print journalist in regional WA.
A city girl from Perth, Georgia also lived in Milan, Cairo, Sydney and London growing up, so didn’t know much about life outside the city limits.
This all changed when she landed a job in Geraldton in 2005, a farming and fishing city more than 400km north of Perth. A whole new world opened up.
She surprised all who knew her by falling in love with country WA, despite being so clueless at first that she didn’t know what a wheat silo was.
The relaxed lifestyle, people’s lack of pretension, and the sense of community meant she was in no rush to head back to the big smoke.
Georgia then moved to the Kalgoorlie Miner, WA’s only regional daily newspaper, where she discovered the red dirt and cracking news stories of the Goldfields.
A four-year stint followed as the South West correspondent for The West Australian, based in Bunbury, covering everything from fatal shark attacks to bushfires, until the lure of the spoken word proved too strong and she shifted to the ABC to become a radio producer.
Georgia hasn’t looked back.
Latest by Georgia Loney
Councillor loses bid to scrap 'tokenistic' Welcome to Country protocols amid Indigenous backlash
A local government in Western Australia's South West has rejected a controversial proposal to abolish ceremonies that pay tribute to Aboriginal people.
Scientists urge Alcoa and WA government to avoid 'extinction catastrophe' and stop mining in jarrah forests
A group of scientists, including high-profile environmentalist Tim Flannery, warn that United States aluminium giant Alcoa is risking the future of Western Australia's environmentally vulnerable jarrah forests.
Operator of world's largest lithium mine looks to re-open abandoned WA rail line
Talison Lithium is hoping to revive a line, which runs directly through the heart of Donnybrook, for shipments from its Greenbushes mine.
West Australian massage therapist remanded in custody over alleged sexual assault of two women
Police allege 37-year-old Anthony Brain sexually assaulted two women during massage sessions at a Bunbury business during October and November.
Two people taken to hospital after chemical spill at Alcoa's Pinjarra refinery
Two people have been taken to hospital after a chemical spill at an alumina refinery site south of Perth.
They're meant to be illegal but in Bunbury, vapes are being sold like lollies
Without a prescription, the retail purchase of e-cigarettes is not allowed in Western Australia. But in at least one regional city, they're being sold without question.
Council apologises to Wiggles for blasting Hot Potato on loop at homeless hotspot
The City of Bunbury says sorry to the iconic band, but insists the intention was not to drive away rough sleepers.
The Wiggles slam regional city's use of 'Hot Potato' to deter homeless people
The children's music group says the City of Bunbury's decision to play the song on a loop to stop people from sleeping rough at a public bandstand runs counter to the message of their music.
Man charged with murder over alleged attack at Australind NDIS group home
Detectives have charged a 33-year-old man with murder over an alleged attack at an NDIS group home at St Jude's Australind in South West WA.
Firefighters in this country town say they're so fed up with bureaucracy they might quit
Country firefighters in WA are considering quitting over battles with bureaucracy and a funding rejection, according to a volunteer association.
Church member molested young men as they slept after they had been drinking, Perth court hears
A man who was raised to believe "homosexuality was against God's law" is accused of sexually abusing 10 young men over an eight year period in regional WA, a Perth court hears.
WA town Waroona celebrates return of cow statue, after locals and police track 'Mooriel' to Perth
When Waroona's beloved bovine landmark 'Mooriel' went missing from the main street, "all hell broke loose" as locals worked to rustle up a mystery ute.
Almost 90 per cent of people in this WA farming town voted No. Here's why
The resounding No vote in Western Australia has been met with relief by many who say it was a distraction, including those in the Wheatbelt town of Darkan. But others say there will be ramifications for reconciliation.
WA wine region town in uphill battle to stop growth of 'Mount Rubbishmore'
Residents of Dardanup in the Ferguson Valley wine district are up against a landfill site expansion to rival the Pyramids of Giza.
Woman avoids jail over $50,000 botox theft from clinic while in prescription drug haze
A Western Australian district court has been told Zoe McBride-Jones, 35, was under the influence of alcohol and prescription drugs when she committed the theft while in a haze of grief over her father's death.
Tourists warned to stop hassling endangered marsupial for selfies
Visitors to Western Australian forests are being urged not to hassle numbats — or any animal — to get a shot for social media.
'Huge concern' as worker is diagnosed with incurable lung disease at Australia's biggest gold mine
A respiratory health expert says he's "not surprised" a worker at Boddington gold mine in Western Australia has been diagnosed with silicosis, as a union calls for a redoubling of efforts to protect staff.
'Their only solution was to lock him in a cupboard': Dad dismayed by royal commission recommendation to close special schools
Ed Croft, who testified before the disability royal commission, says his son experienced significant problems in mainstream schooling and parents need to be able to choose.
Diagnosed with breast cancer at 33, Elysia is pinning her hopes on a drug so new, it doesn't have a name
While there is no cure for breast cancer, experts say medical advances are allowing patients to live longer and enjoy a better quality of life.
More male survivors of sexual assault are seeking help — but specialised support services are hard to find
Peter says when he spoke up about what his primary school teacher had done decades before, he smiled for the first time in years. He's one of a growing number of men coming forward to get help, according to a WA support service.
'It's tiring our people': Traditional custodians reflect on mental toll of heated Voice debate
In a week where public comments made by prominent Yes campaigner Marcia Langton prompted a media frenzy, Indigenous people reflect on how the Voice to Parliament debate has impacted their mental health.
Boy, 15, remanded to Banksia Hill over alleged $8k burglary at jewellery store
Two teenagers are charged over a burglary at a Bunbury jeweller in which 30 watches worth $8,000 were allegedly stolen.
Why 15,000 old mattresses are proving to be a multimillion-dollar headache
WA's largest regional city is facing an expensive clean up bill for 15,000 discarded mattresses after environmental regulators deemed them a serious fire risk.
Country bishop apologises to Indigenous people for past 'pain and violence', acknowledges massacres
A bishop in regional Western Australia has apologised to Aboriginal people, and acknowledged Anglicans likely took part in "shameful betrayals and massacres".
Man, 29, found dead after cabin fire near Bunbury
Police are investigating after a man was found dead following a fire at a caravan park in Western Australia.