Retired life is wonderful for Adelaide news legend Jane Doyle but ‘never say never’

The legendary Adelaide journalist says she’s loving retirement but can’t rule out a return to the city’s airwaves.

Overseas holidays, relaxing days in the garden, nights at the opera … retired Seven newsreader Jane Doyle is making the most of her belated “gap year”.

“I didn’t have one when I was younger … so it’s fair to say I’ve taken to it like a duck to water,” she said. “Life is wonderful.”

It’s been almost 12 months since Doyle, 65, announced she was stepping away from Seven’s news desk following a storied 33-year career on our TV screens.

While it’s still early days in her retirement, there’s been some recent buzz about a possible return to the media, perhaps on the radio airwaves as FIVEaa’s new afternoons host or in place of Peter Goers’ on ABC evenings.

Is that something the beloved Adelaide personality would consider?

“I’d think about it. I do love radio, it was my first love, apart from writing,” she admitted.

“Radio is a passion of mine … but the problem with taking on even a part-time role is then you are curbed in what you can do elsewhere in your life.

“(But) you never know, you never say never in this business.”

Retired Seven newsreader Jane Doyle's holiday snaps from the Arctic and the Antarctic. Pics: Supplied.

Retired Seven newsreader Jane Doyle's holiday snaps from the Arctic and the Antarctic. Pics: Supplied.

Retired Seven newsreader Jane Doyle's holiday snaps from the Arctic and the Antarctic. Pics: Supplied.

Truth be told, Doyle might be enjoying her freedom a little too much to make a comeback.

Soon after her final news bulletin in December, she started travelling – and has barely stopped since. First to Coffin Bay on the Eyre Peninsula for an extended break over Christmas and New Year, before a trip to Antarctica in March for three weeks.

Doyle visited the Antarctic Peninsula, South Georgia Island and the Falklands on an expedition ship, coming up close and personal with King Penguin colonies.

“For an animal nut like me, it was just heaven on earth. It was mind altering. It was just fantastic, thrilling beyond belief,” she said.

She also took the plunge, literally, into the Antarctic Ocean.

“Yes I did the polar plunge. I was wearing my bathing suit … it’s just above freezing, there’s icebergs all around you. It’s like jumping into a very big frozen spa, with amazing scenery,” she said. “It was truly exhilarating.”

Retiring ABC radio stawlwart Peter Goers, with Hannah Conda and Bebe Gunn at Broken Hill’s Broken Heel Festival.

After more time in Coffin Bay over Easter, another overseas sojourn followed – a belated 40th wedding anniversary trip with husband Ian – taking in the Arctic, and Europe including Finland, Scotland, England, France and the northern Italy across three glorious months.

On their return in September, it was straight into the garden alongside some quality time with her dogs, Fergus and Hamish, and visits to the gym 3-4 times a week.

Doyle’s also kept busy with commitments including a position on the State Opera’s board and various philanthropic endeavours such as Impact 100 SA, a “giving circle’’ model of charitable donation.

“I’m trying really hard to do all the things I’ve wanted to do all my life,” she said.

“I still want to do more travel, we hope to go up to the Kimberley (in Western Australia) next year. I’m also very keen to get to the Galapagos Islands at some stage in the near future.

“I love not being on a schedule where I have to be somewhere on a certain time.”

After more than three decades at the forefront of news, Doyle is also happy to be able to switch off from the day-to-day news cycle.

“It takes a while to turn off from trying to keep up to date with everything. But I think like a lot of people at the moment, with the overwhelming nature of some of the news, whether it’s what’s happening in Gaza or Ukraine or even more locally … I’m actually trying to detox from it,” she said.

“People still expect me to know everything because they still think of me as the person on the news. ‘Oh you’d know what’s going on’, they say. Perhaps not as much as I used to.”

Apart from her colleagues, there is one thing she misses about her work life – and it’s what could draw her back.

“I miss being on-air, I did love being on air, that was the highlight of every day, actually talking to the viewers so I do miss that,” she said.

“But I have no regrets about the timing of my departure.”

Originally published as Retired life is wonderful for Adelaide news legend Jane Doyle but ‘never say never’