It could be a long summer in the air-conditioned studios at Ultimo for the ABC’s two new local radio presenters.

Julie
McCrossin slides into the 702 breakfast shift next Monday to start
learning the job, and switching from ABC Radio National to the more
commercially-minded local radio station will be a tough gig for her.
But she’s been in there this past week getting a feel of the way things
work. McCrossin does start with at least one advantage: she lives in
Sydney and understands the city.

As for the higher profile
presenter, Virginia Trioli, the import from Melbourne, there’s no sign
yet of a start date. Sometime in October is the best bet. That will
allow her to miss the local NRL competition finals which may have
exposed her lack of city knowledge.

But I hear the honchos at 702 are toying with the idea of getting
McCrossin and Trioli to work through much of summer, perhaps into
January, before giving them a break to recharge before returning in
early February. That way they will have a chance to get used to Sydney
and ABC 702 listeners will have a chance to get used to them.