Ron Casey
Encyclopedia
Ronald Patrick Casey AM
MBE (28 December 1927 - 19 June 2000) was a Melbourne
based Australian rules football
administrator, commentator and television pioneer.
Melbourne from the late 1940s to the late 1970s.
He started out as a panel operator at radio 3DB and overcame a speech impediment to replace Eric Welsh as 3DB's sports director. He became one of Victoria's and Australia's leading sports commentators on radio and television, especially in football, boxing and harness racing. His most famous radio broadcast was the 1968 call from Japan when Lionel Rose defeated Fighting Harada for the world title.
in 1956, he served as host of HSV-7's WORLD OF SPORT program for 28 years and became studio manager of HSV in 1969 and was General Manager of HSV from 1972 until 1987 when the station was sold to the Fairfax group.
He served on the Board of the Federation of Australian Commercial Television Stations, chairing it for three terms.
On Australia Day, 26 January 1995 he became the first personality to appear on Australian Pay-TV.
. He was awarded the MBE in 1982 for his services to sport and journalism. In 1991 he was inducted into the Sport Australia Hall of Fame, and in 1996 was an inaugural inductee into the Australian Football Hall of Fame
in the Media category. The Melbourne Cricket Ground's media centre is called the Ron Casey Media Centre in his honour.
Of Irish descent, Casey was a long-time member of the Celtic Club
, and frequently attended major Irish-Australian events throughout his life.
Order 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"...
MBE (28 December 1927 - 19 June 2000) was a Melbourne
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
based Australian rules football
Australian rules football
Australian rules football, officially known as Australian football, also called football, Aussie rules or footy is a sport played between two teams of 22 players on either...
administrator, commentator and television pioneer.
Radio roles
Casey was a Melbourne sporting commentator and radio presenter with 3DB3DB
Mix 101.1 is a radio station broadcasting in Melbourne, Australia. Its target demographic is the under 25-54 yr old age group. Mix 101.1 is part of the Australian Radio Mix Network and broadcasts on the 101.1 MHz frequency...
Melbourne from the late 1940s to the late 1970s.
He started out as a panel operator at radio 3DB and overcame a speech impediment to replace Eric Welsh as 3DB's sports director. He became one of Victoria's and Australia's leading sports commentators on radio and television, especially in football, boxing and harness racing. His most famous radio broadcast was the 1968 call from Japan when Lionel Rose defeated Fighting Harada for the world title.
Television roles
Joining HSV-7HSV-7
HSV is a television station in Melbourne. It is part of the Seven Network, one of the three main commercial television networks in Australia, and its first and oldest station, having been launched in time for the 1956 Summer Olympic Games in Melbourne....
in 1956, he served as host of HSV-7's WORLD OF SPORT program for 28 years and became studio manager of HSV in 1969 and was General Manager of HSV from 1972 until 1987 when the station was sold to the Fairfax group.
He served on the Board of the Federation of Australian Commercial Television Stations, chairing it for three terms.
On Australia Day, 26 January 1995 he became the first personality to appear on Australian Pay-TV.
Other
He served as many years as President and Chairman of his beloved North Melbourne Football ClubNorth Melbourne Football Club
The North Melbourne Football Club, nicknamed The Kangaroos, is the fourth oldest Australian rules football club in the Australian Football League and is one of the oldest sporting clubs in Australia and the world...
. He was awarded the MBE in 1982 for his services to sport and journalism. In 1991 he was inducted into the Sport Australia Hall of Fame, and in 1996 was an inaugural inductee into the Australian Football Hall of Fame
Australian Football Hall of Fame
The Australian Football Hall of Fame was established in 1996, the Centenary year of the Australian Football League, to help recognise the contributions made to the sport of Australian rules football by players, umpires, media personalities, coaches and administrators. It was initially established...
in the Media category. The Melbourne Cricket Ground's media centre is called the Ron Casey Media Centre in his honour.
Of Irish descent, Casey was a long-time member of the Celtic Club
Melbourne Celtic Club
The Melbourne Celtic Club is a social organisation for Melburnians of Celtic ancestry or descent.- Overview :Founded on 26 September 1887, the Club was originally a semi-political association, supportive of Irish Home Rule amongst Melbourne's sizeable Irish population; and championing the rights...
, and frequently attended major Irish-Australian events throughout his life.
External links
- Harness Racing Victoria - Ron Casey
- Sport Australia Hall of Fame
- Friends of Cheltenham and Regional Cemeteries Inc.
- Listen to Ron Casey commentating when Lionel Rose won the 1968 World Title on australianscreen online