Ron Casey (Sydney broadcaster)
Encyclopedia
Ronald Arthur Casey, OAM
, (born 5 July 1929) was a former colourful television presenter, sports journalist and talk-back
radio host based in Sydney
, Australia
. His nickname was The Case.
He was born in Lismore, New South Wales
, but moved to Sydney with his mother and brother settling at Coogee, New South Wales
when he was 10. Ron Casey is sometimes affectionately referred to as "Won Casey" owing to the broadcaster having a speech impediment causing difficulty pronouncing the letter "r".
In his youth, Ron Casey was a N.S.W. State swimming champion. He married in Sydney twice, first in 1954 and had two daughters. He married again in 1966 and had a son and a daughter.
Nine Network
compering the sports program World of Sports (with Frank Hyde
) and later as the sports newsreader at Channel TEN-10
. He was also a talk-back radio host at Sydney radio stations 2SM
, 2KY
and 2GB
. His career began at 2KY
in 1948. Ron Casey was also a sports journalist at Sydney's The Daily Mirror (Australia)
for many years.
Medal on Australia Day 1988 for services to Television and Sport.
In the 1980's, Casey became a vocal campaigner against increasing Asian immigration to Australia although he denied he was ever a racist. Said Casey:
In 1991, Ron Casey was involved in a sensational incident on national television. During a televised republican debate, he became involved in a live on-air brawl with singer Normie Rowe
on the Nine Network
's Midday television show hosted by Ray Martin
which showed Casey punching Rowe in the face. The incident was even mentioned in the Federal Parliament. The Victorian
RSL
chief Bruce Ruxton
, who was on the set at the time of the brawl, said the next day: "As for Ron Casey, he deserved a good punch in the nose."
In May 2000, Casey was suspended from radio station 2GB
as a result of alleged inappropriate comments he made on-air. Soon after, he retired from the Sydney media after a career that spanned 50 years.
[
OAM
OAM is an acronym that may refer to:*OA&M, Operations, Administration, and Maintenance*Oamaru Aerodrome, New Zealand*Object access method*Observatorio Astronómico de Mallorca, an observatory in Spain*U.S...
, (born 5 July 1929) was a former colourful television presenter, sports journalist and talk-back
Talk radio
Talk radio is a radio format containing discussion about topical issues. Most shows are regularly hosted by a single individual, and often feature interviews with a number of different guests. Talk radio typically includes an element of listener participation, usually by broadcasting live...
radio host based in Sydney
Sydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
. His nickname was The Case.
He was born in Lismore, New South Wales
Lismore, New South Wales
Lismore is a subtropical town in northeastern New South Wales, Australia. Lismore is the main population centre in the City of Lismore local government area. Lismore is a regional centre in the Northern Rivers region of the State.-History:...
, but moved to Sydney with his mother and brother settling at Coogee, New South Wales
Coogee, New South Wales
Coogee is a beachside suburb of local government area City of Randwick. It is located 8 kilometres south-east of the Sydney central business district, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. It is also a part of the Eastern Suburbs of Sydney....
when he was 10. Ron Casey is sometimes affectionately referred to as "Won Casey" owing to the broadcaster having a speech impediment causing difficulty pronouncing the letter "r".
In his youth, Ron Casey was a N.S.W. State swimming champion. He married in Sydney twice, first in 1954 and had two daughters. He married again in 1966 and had a son and a daughter.
Media career
He became famous in the early years of television as a sports presenter at TCN-9TCN
TCN stands for:* Take Care Now, a private company providing out-of-hours medical cover in England* TanenbaumCHAT North Campus, a private Hebrew high school in Richmond Hill, Ontario, Canada* TCN-9, a Sydney television station...
Nine Network
Nine Network
The Nine Network , is an Australian television network with headquarters based in Willoughby, a suburb located on the North Shore of Sydney. For 50 years since television's inception in Australia, between 1956 and 2006, it was the most watched television network in Australia...
compering the sports program World of Sports (with Frank Hyde
Frank Hyde
Frank Hyde, MBE, OAM, was an Australian rugby league footballer, coach and radio caller. A New South Wales representative three-quarter, Hyde played his club football in Sydney for NSWRFL Premiership clubs Newtown, Balmain and North Sydney...
) and later as the sports newsreader at Channel TEN-10
TEN-10
TEN is the callsign of Network Ten's flagship Sydney television station. It was originally owned and operated by United Telecasters Sydney Limited , and began transmission on 5 April 1965 with the highlight of the opening night being the variety special TV Spells Magic.-History:TEN often lagged in...
. He was also a talk-back radio host at Sydney radio stations 2SM
2SM
2SM is an Australian radio station, licensed to and serving Sydney, New South Wales, broadcasting on 1269 kilohertz on the AM band. It is owned and operated by Broadcast Operations Group...
, 2KY
2KY
2KY is a commercial radio station based in Sydney, broadcasting throughout New South Wales and Canberra on a network of over 140 narrowcast transmitters as well as the main 1017 AM frequency in Sydney. 2KY broadcasts live commentary of thoroughbred, harness and greyhound racing...
and 2GB
2GB
2GB is a commercial radio station in Sydney, Australia broadcasting on 873 kHz, AM. It is one of Australia's most popular talk-back radio stations, and is the number one station in Sydney.-History:The station commenced broadcasting in August 1926...
. His career began at 2KY
2KY
2KY is a commercial radio station based in Sydney, broadcasting throughout New South Wales and Canberra on a network of over 140 narrowcast transmitters as well as the main 1017 AM frequency in Sydney. 2KY broadcasts live commentary of thoroughbred, harness and greyhound racing...
in 1948. Ron Casey was also a sports journalist at Sydney's The Daily Mirror (Australia)
The Daily Mirror (Australia)
The Daily Mirror was an afternoon paper established by Ezra Norton in Sydney, Australia in 1941, gaining a licence from the Minister for Trade and Customs, Eric Harrison, despite wartime paper rationing. In October 1958, Norton and his partners sold his newspapers to the Fairfax group, which...
for many years.
Awards
Ron Casey was awarded the Order of AustraliaOrder of Australia
The Order of Australia is an order of chivalry established on 14 February 1975 by Elizabeth II, Queen of Australia, "for the purpose of according recognition to Australian citizens and other persons for achievement or for meritorious service"...
Medal on Australia Day 1988 for services to Television and Sport.
Controversy
Although Ron Casey was a very successful sports media figure, he later found controversy as an often politically incorrect talk-back radio host. Casey was also famous for his quick temper.In the 1980's, Casey became a vocal campaigner against increasing Asian immigration to Australia although he denied he was ever a racist. Said Casey:
"The conspiracy exists among prominent politicians to stifle any debate on the immigration issue, and among ethnic leaders in the community to diffuse any opposition to unlimited Asian immigration. The facts are plain to see. The majority of Australians are against it, but nothing is done to ensure their wishes are fulfilled. I spoke out and was vilified. Professor BlaineyGeoffrey BlaineyGeoffrey Norman Blainey AC , is a prominent Australian historian.Blainey was born in Melbourne and raised in a series of Victorian country towns before attending Wesley College and the University of Melbourne. While at university he was editor of Farrago, the newspaper of the University of...
spoke out and lost his job. John HowardJohn HowardJohn Winston Howard AC, SSI, was the 25th Prime Minister of Australia, from 11 March 1996 to 3 December 2007. He was the second-longest serving Australian Prime Minister after Sir Robert Menzies....
spoke out and was dumped as opposition leader. Bruce RuxtonBruce RuxtonBruce Caryle Ruxton AM, OBE is an Australian ex-serviceman and former President of the Victorian Returned and Services League.-Early life:Ruxton grew up in Kew, Victoria...
spoke out and was labelled a racist looney."
In 1991, Ron Casey was involved in a sensational incident on national television. During a televised republican debate, he became involved in a live on-air brawl with singer Normie Rowe
Normie Rowe
Norman John "Normie" Rowe AM was a major male solo performer of Australian pop music in the 1960s. Known for his bright and edgy tenor voice and dynamic stage presence, many of Rowe's most successful recordings were produced by Pat Aulton, house producer for the Sunshine Records, Spin Records and...
on the Nine Network
Nine Network
The Nine Network , is an Australian television network with headquarters based in Willoughby, a suburb located on the North Shore of Sydney. For 50 years since television's inception in Australia, between 1956 and 2006, it was the most watched television network in Australia...
's Midday television show hosted by Ray Martin
Ray Martin (television presenter)
Raymond George "Ray" Martin AM is an Australian television journalist. He is best known for his various on-air roles on Channel Nine from 1978 to 2008. In 2011 he returned to 60 Minutes....
which showed Casey punching Rowe in the face. The incident was even mentioned in the Federal Parliament. The Victorian
Victoria (Australia)
Victoria is the second most populous state in Australia. Geographically the smallest mainland state, Victoria is bordered by New South Wales, South Australia, and Tasmania on Boundary Islet to the north, west and south respectively....
RSL
Returned and Services League of Australia
The Returned and Services League of Australia is a support organisation for men and women who have served or are serving in the Australian Defence Force ....
chief Bruce Ruxton
Bruce Ruxton
Bruce Caryle Ruxton AM, OBE is an Australian ex-serviceman and former President of the Victorian Returned and Services League.-Early life:Ruxton grew up in Kew, Victoria...
, who was on the set at the time of the brawl, said the next day: "As for Ron Casey, he deserved a good punch in the nose."
In May 2000, Casey was suspended from radio station 2GB
2GB
2GB is a commercial radio station in Sydney, Australia broadcasting on 873 kHz, AM. It is one of Australia's most popular talk-back radio stations, and is the number one station in Sydney.-History:The station commenced broadcasting in August 1926...
as a result of alleged inappropriate comments he made on-air. Soon after, he retired from the Sydney media after a career that spanned 50 years.
Biography
The story of Ron Casey's life was published in 1989. It was written with Richard Sleeman and was called Confessions of a Larrikin. The book was very successful. Even though he was often deemed controversial in his views and opinions, Ron Casey always retained a large Sydney audience/fan-base and his radio and television ratings were always high.See also
- Ron Casey (Melbourne broadcaster)
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