MacDonald was raised on a cattle property in the outback town of
Blackall, Queensland. She had two sisters, Kylie and
Jacki MacDonald, the latter also a television presenter. MacDonald appeared on local television in Queensland before going on to national programs such as children's show
Wombat and the local version of British game show ''
It's a Knockout. While hosting Wombat
, she was featured in the "A Day in the Life" series by The Australian Women's Weekly. After leaving It's a Knockout'', MacDonald became a wine expert. ==Personal life and death==