Judy Kennedy grew up on a sheep and cattle property near Dirranbandi in southwest Queensland.

Her first job in journalism was as a cadet with the weekly rural newspaper Queensland Country Life, and she subsequently worked as a reporter in Rockhampton, Longreach and Roma.

After a 12-month stint travelling through Canada, the U.S. and Europe she joined ABC Radio in 1991 as a rural reporter. Judy presented statewide programs and regional reports from Melbourne, Canberra and Brisbane as well as Toowoomba and Horsham.

Her first stint in ABC TV was as presenter of Landline in 1994 and she returned in 1998 as TV News‘ north Queensland reporter working out of Townsville.

Two years later Judy went back to radio, to present the Drive program on 612 ABC Brisbane for six months, before being ‘poached’ by ABC Rural to a management position in Melbourne.