You maybe interested to know this is Val’s 4th visit to Oz courtesy of
the Aussie taxpayer courtesy of the ABC. She is a ‘personal’ friend of
Sue Howard, ABC Director Radio and hence the return visit.

In 2002 Valerie spent a little over a month swanning around the various
ABC radio halls of shame at a cost to the ABC of $3,000 US per day..
plus a limo and driver at her instant command, plus the usual upgrade
to accommodation that was often sub standard even by five star rating,
plus a list of other demands like HER brand of coffee etc etc.
Naturally she played the Prima Donna role well and imparted a fraction
of her knowledge as she racked up the frequent flyer points. At one
particular function for ABC Radio managers at the Royce Hotel in St
Kilda, Val was paid for 2 days appearance. Her first day went something
like this.. Arrive: 9.30am – complain she still has jet lag and really
shouldn’t be awake at this time. Introduced to speak: 9.45am – speaks
for 10 minutes then fills the next two hours asking the 60 or 70
gathered ABC staff to give their ‘golden moment’ of radio. Departs
after lunch and pockets the three large and thank you very much. Day
Two – absent because of jet lag and sickness – another three large and
thank Mother for the rabbits. What gems of wisdom did Val impart over
those two days?? Sweet FA, but by hell she is a performer.

At another ‘meeting with Valerie’ she arrived at 10.15am via stretch
limo, announced she never starts before 10… had a coffee (with
mandatory complaint about it not being HER brand and the subsequent
quick exit of ABC underlings to procure said brand) she then gave one
on one sessions with some ABC presenters and producers.. spent an hour
and a half for lunch (with mandatory complaint about food) and left
around 3.45 via limo to her now upgraded apartment room. That’s a four
hour working day @$3,000 US… no wonder she wants to come back and
milk the ABC of some more funds!

It doesn’t take much to do the sums. $3,000 US a day x 34 days plus
various add ons. Several at Aunty estimate that visit cost more than
$A750,000, although no one at senior level can confirm nor deny and no
one at Aunty dares raise the issue because Valerie is a dear personal
friend of the Director Radio…

No one denies that any form of training is a good thing, and let’s face
it Valerie Geller has all the credentials of a Radio guru….. but is
she value for money? If anyone at the ABC was devising a training
budget would they consider blowing three quarters a million on one
person.. and what about the results? Howard will point to improved
ratings, higher quality programs, broadcasters being kidnapped by rival
networks…..hell if Valerie is that good, sack the Radio executive and
get her in to run the bloody lot!