Ray Hadley

Raymond Morris Hadley OAM (born 27 September 1954) is a socially conservative Australian radio presenter. He presents 2GB Sydney's morning show, and leads the Continuous Call Team, a rugby league-based talkback radio panel program.

History

He grew up in the western suburbs of Sydney but spent a great deal of time with his grandparents in a small village called Eungai Rail on the mid north coast of New South Wales.

He decided at a young age to become a sports broadcaster, but reports being questioned by his family and friends whenever his ambitions were brought up. After completing his Higher School Certificate in 1972, he tried unsuccessfully to gain a job in sports broadcasting. He soon found work in auctioneering, and after getting his auctioneer's licence, was an auctioneer for ten years.

He soon quit auctioneering to become a taxi driver, so that he could spend his weekends getting casual work as a race broadcaster. By 1980, he was calling the greyhound races at Appin, Bulli and Nowra.

2UE

One night, while driving his taxi, he was called to Radio 2UE in Sydney to pick up news director Mark Collier, who gave him casual work at the station.

Within a month, he was presenting traffic reports for Gary O'Callaghan's breakfast program, and did on-air promotions for various 2UE programs. He eventually landed up as an understudy race caller, behind Des Hoysted and John Tapp.

In 1987, Ray was chosen to head up 2UE's Rugby League coverage: The Continuous Call Team. The station had ratings victories 10 out of the 13 years 2UE had the rights to cover the game during his tenure.In 1994, he was the first league broadcaster since Frank Hyde to attract 200,000 listeners per quarter hour.

During that time, he was also understudy and fill-in presenter for morning show presenter John Laws.

In 1999, 2UE lost the rights to the National Rugby League to 2GB. Faced with a difficult challenge to retain listeners, 2UE asked Hadley to present a rugby league program without access to the actual game. Despite this hurdle, the renamed "Talking League Team" won every rating period during 2000 and 2001. At times 2GB complained that the frequent "updates" given on the show extended to near real time commentary, which 2UE denied.

During his time at 2UE, Ray also broadcast at the 2000 Sydney Olympics and was commentating on Cathy Freeman's memorable 400m race, where she had won gold. Freeman had later heard the replay of the race, and said that Ray's call made it sound better than she thought it was.

2GB

In 2002, Ray joined fellow 2UE presenter Alan Jones over at 2GB, and was chosen to present their morning show. In addition, the Talking League team was also brought over to 2GB to present their league broadcasts, and they returned to their original Continuous Call Team name. Having worked at both stations, Ray keeps in contact with people over at 2UE, evident in his relationship with the late Stan Zemanek, whom he knew "in excess of 25 years," as said on his show on 11 May 2006. Stan was briefly mentioned due to the fact that he was diagnosed with a brain tumour and Ray wished him a speedy recovery. Stan was at the lunch earlier in 2007 to celebrate Ray's 25 years in broadcasting, as was 2UE's Stuart Bocking. A few months later, Stan Zemanek passed away from the tumour he fought so valiantly.

With his talkback show, his favourite music genre is country and western (both traditional and modern) - especially new releases and some old favourites but would occasionally play nostalgic 50's 60's and 70's radio-friendly pop hits. He broadcasts his show wearing business casual clothes as well as formal business attire, and can be seen on the webcam. He also has his trademark blue pop filter on his microphone that is distinctly accentuated. Don Moxham always reports the traffic during his shift, with Rachael Stevens as the newsreader whom he talks to from time to time as well as his panel operator, Chris Bowen (often just called "Bowen"). During the show, at every hour, after every hourly news update, he always plays parodies of well-known songs such as the "Happy Days" theme, the Leo Sayer hit "You Make Me Feel Like Dancing", "Oh, What A Night (December 1963)" by Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons as well as a rendition of the Harry Nilsson hit "Everybody's Talkin'". Before the 11am news, John Singleton always advertises the Loaves and Fishes Free Restaurant at the Ashfield Uniting Church (which is run by fellow 2GB broadcaster Rev Bill Crews) where "everyone is welcome, every day".

Ray's opening theme is "Murrumbidgee" by one of his favourite country groups, The Wolverines, who are also great mates, while the closing theme is the world famous honky-tonk country instrumental "Last Date" from renowned country pianist Floyd Cramer.

Awards

He has been named the best Radio Sports Broadcaster at the "Rawards" for the 5 out of the past 10 years, and was awarded an Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) in the Queen's Birthday 2002 Honours List for services to rugby league (as a broadcaster) and the community, through fundraising initiatives for charitable organisations.

To prove that he is more than a sports broadcaster, Ray won an accolade at the 2006 ACRAs (also known as the RAWARDS) for "Best Current Affairs Presenter".

Ray Hadley's coverage of the 2008 Beijing Olympics was acclaimed as the some of the best sports commentary from any Olympics.

Television

After initially commencing as a sports reporter on Channel 7, Ray was recruited to Channel 9 by having his profile catapulted onto the small screen as part of "The Footy Show" with his radio and rugby league colleague Steve "Blocker" Roach from 1994-1998. Ray made a one-off appearance on "The Footy Show" in 2005 as part of a forum to discuss brawling and antagonism between Bulldogs supporters at Telstra Stadium during a game against the Brisbane Broncos. Ray also branched out into TV commercials and for 17 years was spruiking the popular menswear establishment Lowes.

Ray is now making a triumphant return to television as part of the "All Stars" segment every Friday on the Channel 7 breakfast show Sunrise discussing the issues and topics of the day.

Ray also hosts the 'Countinous Call Team TV' in which several parts of the Continuous Call Team on Saturday Afternoons 12-6pm gets put on RugbyLeagueLive.com which goes beetween 20-30mins.

Radio Milestone

On 28th February 2007, Ray Hadley chalked his 25th year on radio with a reflection on his illustrious career during his number 1 rating show with callers being those instrumental in shaping his career.

Ray lives in the north-west of Sydney with his wife Suzanne and four children Daniel, Laura, Emma and Sarah.

External links

* [http://www.rayhadley.com.au/ Ray Hadley's Official Website]
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* [http://www.2gb.com.au 2GB 873 AM]