Kelli Underwood receives Order of Australia honour for broadcasting achievements
Kelli Underwood has received an Order of Australia honour for her contributions to broadcasting, marking her pioneering role as the first female AFL commentator and celebrating her resilient career.
Fox Footy icon Kelli Underwood has expressed her gratitude after being recognised with an Order of Australia for Services to Broadcasting on Australia Day.
Underwood, a pioneering sports broadcaster from South Australia, made history in 2009 as the first woman to commentate an AFL game. Despite facing criticism throughout her career, she remains "completely chuffed" by her recent honour.
"The best way to describe it - I put my hand on the door handle before anyone thought a woman had earnt the right to walk through the door," she shared. “I had a fire in the belly and deeply believed it was the right thing to do.”
Reflecting on her journey, Underwood noted the loneliness that comes with being a trailblazer in the industry: "To be the first is a lonely spot. You've always got a target on your back," she said.
Despite an initial setback with Channel 10 after two seasons, Underwood has established herself at Fox Footy and ABC Radio, where she loves her job. She recalls the disbelief of starting her broadcasting career, saying: "It’s absolutely terrifying… it's like you're about to be pushed off a cliff."
Underwood's path to commentary began unexpectedly when her former colleague Rex Hunt encouraged her to call a quarter of footy with him. "Bizarrely, the iconic Rex Hunt sort of planted the seed of commentary," she explained.
With a commitment to hard work and resilience, Underwood has been calling games on radio and TV for 15 years, proving that success in AFL isn't solely reserved for former champions. "I guess that's my story," she remarked.
When discussing the challenges of being a female commentator in a male-dominated industry, Underwood emphasised the importance of maintaining a sense of humour: "I make mistakes, everyone makes mistakes. I laugh at them - I'm the first to laugh at myself."
Winning the OAM is a source of immense pride for Underwood, who sees it as recognition of her contributions to Australian broadcasting. "You sit back and think of the fact I've been able to contribute to Australian society and it being recognised, you feel really proud. It's amazing," she concluded.
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