McNamara grew up in the southern Sydney suburb of Oatley.

[3] McNamara graduated from the University of Sydney with a Bachelor of Economics degree before working as a jackaroo.

He then spent 12 months in television, working on A Big Country and Countrywide, before returning to rural radio in 1980 as a reporter and, eventually, the presenter of Australia All Over.

In 1984, he was appointed executive producer of the current affairs program City Extra (a 2BL current affairs show), but late in 1985 he returned to the Regional Radio Unit as executive producer of programs including Morning Extra, Australia All Over and Resources.

[8] More recent publications include Say G'day: 'Australia All Over' Takes to the Road (2010) and Australia All Over: Song of the Thong and other Legendary Verses (2011).