Career change music to her ears

Meghan Lawrence

Best known in her time as a television presenter and pop musician, Fiona McDonald has changed careers and taken up the real estate baton.

McDonald starred in bands such as the Headless Chickens and Strawpeople, which had a string of hits in the late 1980s and early 90s. She has also appeared on TV shows and was a presenter on the Shopping Channel.

But she is also passionate about real estate, and her latest role is working at Barfoot & Thompson.

McDonald said she decided to become a real estate agent after her husband said to her “Do you think it is time you got a job?” after she had been a stay-at-home mother for a few years.

“I have always loved real estate. When I was pregnant with my first child, and when I was down in the dumps, my husband would say let’s go to some open homes because it would just cheer me up.

“I also like the idea of it working for me flexibly as a parent because my role as a mother is still the most important role I have in my life.”

McDonald said her celebrity profile had helped in her career move.

“I wondered if it would affect my credibility as an agent, but obviously I am a new agent anyway and I think anyone has to prove themselves.

“What I have found . . . is that through a mixture of my musical background and having been on TV, people feel like they already know me and that has broken down some barriers and broken the ice and people feel very happy just coming up and talking to me.

“I certainly haven’t found anything negative. It has all been positive.”