Former Triple J and ABC TV presenter Sarah Macdonald will be the new anchor of ABC Radio National’s Bush Telegraph from next Wednesday. For the past two years she has been living and travelling in India, writing freelance articles about South Asia as well as a book about her experiences, called “Holy Cow – An Indian Adventure.”

McDonald began her career at the ABC in 1990 working in news and current affairs before joining Triple J as the network’s Canberra political reporter. She then presented Triple J’s arts show Creatures of the Spotlight and was the network’s Morning Show presenter until 2000. She also worked on ABC TV’s Recovery program and as Radio National’s Summer Breakfast presenter last year.

Broadcast weekdays at 11am, Radio National’s Bush Telegraph covers the people, places and issues shaping rural and regional Australia. Its aim is to connect the country – exploring the similarities as well as the differences between urban, rural and regional Australia.

Regular features on Bush Telegraph include: Country Viewpoint – revealing opinion pieces from people living outside the major cities from all walks of life; Rural Reporter – ABC’s regional journalists telling unique stories from their local area; Country Childhood – prominent Australians relating their experiences of growing up in rural and regional Australia; and to celebrate the “year of the outback”, Rural Legends – from quiet achievers to those who’ve become household names, all these ‘legends’ are people who have made a special contribution to the rich history of rural life.