Lights, cameras and a whole lot of cuteness
GOLD Coast television’s baby brigade are back and ready to mix life in the limelight with motherhood.
Channel 7 identities Amanda Abate (news anchor), Liz Cantor (presenter) and Sally Pearson (sports presenter) all took some time away from the newsdesk on maternity leave.
The trio, who had children within three months of each other, are back on deck and ready to resume their careers while balancing the requirements of parenthood.
Ms Cantor shot her first Creek to Coast episode on Tuesday after her return to work, admitting she was apprehensive but overcame the obstacles thanks to the support of her husband, Ryan.
“We were going over to North Stradbroke Island and I told Ryan my concerns,” she said.
“He said to me, ‘It’s not the 1950s it’s 2023 – you can express bottles, she has a dad, I will work from home today – off you go’.
“I’ve had a lot of encouragement and it’s been really empowering.”
Ms Cantor said she was happy to have the support of her TV “mothers group” with Ms Abate and Ms Pearson.
“Growing up you rarely saw pregnant women on television reporting news let alone heard about women in media, on screen in front of you with babies at home,” she said.
“We’ve all been quite open about our experience of being pregnant and doing the juggle of coming into work and also having little ones at home, hopefully we can help inspire other mums.
“It’s not easy by any means, but it’s possible – I love what Ryan said to me, this is 2023 lean into the family around you, because you’ve got a tribe.”
Fresh back at the newsdesk after having her second child Pia, Ms Abate said while it was nerve-racking, she was ready to return.
“The flexibility from the bosses has been incredible, the hours that I work are really family friendly and I know they’ve got my back which takes a lot of pressure off,” she said.
“As a much as I love being a mum it is all-consuming and exhausting, so for me going back to work has been that little gap in the day where I can actually take a breath,” she said. “I would say to other mums to back themselves.
“It is an enormous juggle, but once you go back to work you realise you can operate even more efficiently, on less sleep, and still get the job done.”
With a two-and-a-half year old Rose, and a fivemonth old Harry, Olympic athletics champion Ms Pearson said juggling kids was a tag team effort between her and her husband Kieran.
“When Kieran works I have the kids, when I work he has the kids and we just make it work,” she said.
“When I came back to work I said to Kieran, ‘All you have to do is survive these hours and then I’ll be home.
“If you don’t get anything done then that’s okay – as long as the kids are alive and you’re happy then all is fine’.
“It is hard, you have to be organised you don’t get a lot of time for yourself but at the same time it is worth it.”
Mrs Pearson said there was one major upside to returning to her evening news sports role.
“I say it’s less stressful because I don’t have to do the witching hour in the afternoon between three and five. Kids go feral at that stage,” she laughed.
“Kieran does Monday-Thursday so the daycare pick up, he gets home, baths them, dinner, bottle and bed routine.
“That’s tough when you’ve got two of them and both different ages. We make it work, you just have to. it’s part of it and you survive.”