Livinia Nixon at home in Melbourne. Pictures: Chris Groenhout.

She’s celebrating 20 years in the sometimes cutthroat world of commercial television, but Channel 9 presenter Livinia Nixon has a simple explanation for her longevity.

“I’ve always been very grateful for the opportunities I’ve had, and I think being grateful makes you turn up on time, treat people with respect and do the best job you can,” she said.

The now 44-year-old didn’t initially set out to become a TV presenter, instead planning on an international business career after she finished her commerce and arts degree at Deakin University.

But she had been doing some modelling and TV work on the side, which led to her being asked to become Daryl Somers’ new sidekick on TV variety show Hey Hey It’s Saturday.

“I literally finished uni on a Thursday and started working in television the next day,” she recalled.

Nixon was signed by Nine in 1999. For the past 15 years, she has been presenting the weather alongside Peter Hitchener and sports presenter Tony Jones on Nine News Melbourne’s evening bulletin.

“We all have a genuine connection. Not only do we respect each other as work colleagues, but we also like each other as people. I think that comes across to viewers,” Nixon said, of the trio’s longstanding success.

Nixon, who lives with builder and property developer husband Alistair Jack and their sons, Henry, 9, and Ted, 6, in Melbourne, also has a dream gig as one of the presenters of Nine’s Getaway.

“It’s wonderful and another thing I’m very grateful for. We get the red carpet rolled out for us everywhere we go, so we do really get spoiled. I’ve been to some amazing places, like India and Japan, as well,” she said.

She is often away for three weeks at a time, a situation made possible because of her “very capable, hands-on” husband.

“But it’s really hard (being away for so long). The first week is bliss because there are no dishwashers to unpack or thinking about what to cook for dinner. It’s incredible how clearly you can think,” Nixon said. “The second week gets a little tricky. And by the third week, I’m literally counting down the hours until I can see them again.”

Nixon puts down her success to being grateful for the opportunities she’s had.

Typical Saturday morning

I put my taxi driver’s hat on and take the kids to tennis. Then we’ll often go to Lysterfield Park (in Lysterfield) for a bike ride. Now Ted’s six, he’s finally discovered the joys of riding on his own and it’s beautiful to watch.

Emergency snack

I always have bags of popcorn stashed everywhere. It’s a healthy snack that keeps everyone happy.

Signature dish

Poke bowls. I’ll start with brown rice and then add some marinated salmon, edamame beans, cherry tomatoes, avocado and seaweed. I get the boys to help with the chopping and, as they feel involved, they then want to eat it.

Fantasy place to live

The south of France. I went there for Getaway once and the French really know how to live. Work is just a means so they can live their lives.

On my bedside table

A lot of books. I’m currently reading Billion Dollar Whale by Tom Wright and Bradley Hope, which is about the 1MDB (1Malaysia Development Berhad) scandal. I’m also reading Pachinko by Min Jin Lee, a book-club read.

Chill-out music

I really like Bruno Mars. He’s very talented. And I’m a big fan of Beyonce. She’s an incredible woman. I like her song Love on Top.

Happiness at home

Eating dinner together at weekends. We share our highlights and lowlights of the week and

it’s a nice way of connecting and knowing what’s going on in each other’s lives.

Secret domestic skill

I’m good at doing six different things at the same time. But I think most mums are good at that!

My favourite things

Painting

I love this artwork by David Bromley because it reminds me of myself and my two (older) brothers and the incredible childhood we had. The kids look so happy and free and it’s a nice reminder of how I want my own children to feel. Of course, there are moments in life when you have to rush them — usually between 7.45am and 8.15am on a school morning — but, generally, childhood should be about playing and having fun. They’re children for such a short period of their lives, so it should be a really special time. I’ve had the painting for about 12 years. I saw it and just thought, “I’m buying that”, which is something I rarely do.

Art of the matter: the painting reflects how Nixon wants her children to feel.

Golf putter

Al gave me this putter as a gift to celebrate our 10th wedding anniversary (in April 2019). A lot of women might be a little disappointed if their husband bought them a golf club but I was so excited because we love playing golf together and I desperately needed a new putter. I started playing at 21, although I wish I’d started earlier, and I really enjoy the challenge. It’s one of those games where you are challenging yourself mentally and physically. One day, you can hit fantastic shots, and the next, you might be spraying them left and right and you don’t understand what went wrong. But that’s part of the appeal, too.

Hit and miss: golfing good days and bad days are par for the course.

Champagne bottle

Alistair proposed on November 30, 2008, on the beach in Palm Cove, Queensland, and this was the bottle of Moet we drank after I said yes. It’s a nice reminder of a special time. Actually, I nearly ruined Al’s proposal because just at the moment when he was going to pop the question, I spotted my old Nine news director, (the late) John Sorell. I told Al I was going to say hi, but he said, “Do you think maybe you could just leave it?” I was a bit puzzled because it wasn’t like him to be unfriendly, but all became clear when he then proposed! We got married five months later.

Absolute corker: the bottle is a reminder of a special time.

Weather kit

My children were always asking questions about the weather and it occurred to me that perhaps there were other children who were fascinated by the weather, too. So I was pleased to be involved with creating this kit, which includes a book, a poster, an activity kit and a solar-powered windmill. It’s very hands-on but also educational. I find the weather fascinating because it’s constantly changing. I didn’t know a lot about the weather when I first started filling in as a weather reporter at Nine but I did a course at the Bureau (of Meteorology). And, after being surrounded by it five days a week for the past 15 years, I’ve learnt a lot about it. I find it so interesting, it’s not really like work at all.

Bright idea: the weather kit is hands-on and educational.

Book

I’m always telling the boys stories. I’ll ask them for a topic and I’ll weave a story around it. One day, Henry suggested plastic water bottles, which are one of my pet hates. Why we have to go and buy water in a bottle when we have such beautiful tap water flabbergasts me. Anyway, I came up with this story and actually thought it was quite good as it sent a quiet message about doing your bit for the environment. I wrote it up and eventually found a publisher and worked with an incredible illustrator called Heath McKenzie. He met Henry and drew him so perfectly. The work that I do in live television is very transient, so it’s really satisfying to work on a project like Henry’s Pirate Adventure that you can touch and will be around forever.

Worded up: working on the book was “really satisfying”

Mother’s Day card

Out of the mouths of babes comes the truth and when I read this Mother’s Day card from Ted, I thought everything he’s said about me is spot on. It does make me happy when he kisses me. And I do like to relax by reading a book in the sun! I keep the card propped up in my bedroom as a reminder of the important things in life. Kids don’t care about the big stuff; they just want you to be around them, to cuddle them and chat to them.

Hold true: Ted’s Mother’s Day card was “spot on”.