Ron Casey (Sydney broadcaster)

For other people of the same name, see Ron Casey.

Ronald Arthur (Ron) Casey, OAM (born 4 July 1930) is a former television presenter, sports journalist and talk-back radio host based in Sydney, Australia. His nickname was "The Case".

Casey 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.

In his youth, Casey was a NSW 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-9 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 for many years.

Awards

Ron Casey was awarded the Order of Australia 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 1980s, 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 Blainey spoke out and lost his job. John Howard spoke out and was dumped as opposition leader. Bruce Ruxton spoke out and was labelled a racist looney."

On July 16, 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 and actor Normie Rowe on the Nine Network's Midday television show hosted by Ray Martin which showed Casey punching Rowe in the face, after Rowe pushed Casey into his chair. 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." (despite the fact it was Casey who punched Rowe, not the other way around).

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.

He also openly admitted to routinely harassing women. On his show, he said, "Yesterday, Marcus Einfield in the Human Rights and Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, said that his organization was not a platform for vindictiveness or exaggerated allegations . . . [and] not to create a marketplace for exaggerated or imagined allegations against men. And I think Justice Marcus Einfield is right on the burron. So many of these cases . . . they are ugly girls . . . but I've always found whenever I've worked at various radio stations before getting the sack, that if you are nice to ugly girls, it sort of helps them -- it boosts their day -- it makes them feel good. And I've always made a practice wherever I work, of selecting the ugliest girls and as they walk by, give them a backhand pelvic flick."

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)