David William Morrow OAM (5 July 1953 – 16 July 2024) was an Australian sports radio and television broadcaster/commentator, best known for his association with the Australian Broadcasting Corporation and 2GB, and his calling of horse racing and the NRL, but also other sport and his coverage of the Olympics and Commonwealth Games.[1]
David Morrow | |
|---|---|
| Born | David William Morrow 5 July 1953 Sydney, New South Wales, Australia |
| Died | 16 July 2024 (aged 71) Sydney, New South Wales, Australia |
| Other names | Thirsty Morrow (nickname) |
| Occupation | Sports broadcaster |
| Employers | |
| Known for | NRL Broadcasting, race caller |
| Awards | Australian Rugby League Hall of Fame (commentator and broadcaster) National Rugby League Hall of Fame (broadcast and printed media) |
Early life and career
editMorrow was born on 5 July 1953 in Sydney.[2] He grew up in the Northern Tablelands towns of Walcha, Uralla, and Armidale and was educated at The Armidale School.[3]
Morrow started his broadcasting career at Kempsey in 1971 as a general announcer with 2KM (now 2MC) and then became the New South Wales Mid North Coast sports broadcaster.[3] He called local horse races and rugby league matches.[3] He completed an accountancy degree at University of Sydney. In the mid-1970s, he worked as an accountant in Bathurst and was a casual sports broadcaster with 2BS.[3]
Australian Broadcasting Corporation (as racecaller and NRL commentator)
editMorrow joined the ABC in 1980 and commenced calling Friday harness racing at Harold Park and assisting the rugby league commentary team.[3] He ceased calling the harness racing in 1987.[3] In 1985, Morrow became the ABC's number one rugby league radio commentator.[3] He called Saturday rugby league matches on ABC television until the network ceased its coverage in 1996.[2] He called NRL matches on radio with Warren Ryan for fourteen years until both departed in 2014.[4][5]
Olympic, Commonwealth Games and others
editMorrow covered eight Olympic Games and six Commonwealth Games, his first being Olympic Games in 1984 and his first Commonwealth Games in 1986[6][5] In 1990, Morrow replaced Geoff Mahoney as the ABC's Sydney race caller. He also commentated on cricket, rugby union, soccer and athletics.[3]
Other networks
editIn 1990, Morrow worked for Channel Ten and covered the 1990 Kangaroos tour of England.[3] In 1995 and 1996, Morrow called all the Perth-based Western Reds matches for Channel Nine during the Super League War.[3]
Morrow joined the Macquarie Radio Network (now Nine Radio) in 2015 to call NRL matches. Due to illness, Morrow finished calling in February 2024 – a career of calling first grade rugby league for forty-four seasons.[7]
Controversies
editIn May 2013, Morrow was suspended by the ABC for a racist joke but made an apology and was reinstated.[8] In May 2014, Morrow and Warren Ryan were stood down pending an investigation into an alleged racist remark made by Ryan during a rugby league broadcast.[9] In July 2014, the ABC stated that it "has reviewed Mr Morrow's responses to the investigation and accepts that he does not condone or endorse terms that are offensive and racist." In releasing this statement, ABC advised that Morrow would retire in November 2014.[10]
Health and death
editIn February 2024, Ray Hadley announced on 2GB that Morrow was stepping down from his position of calling rugby league, due to a brain cancer diagnosis.[11]
He died due to the cancer on 16 July 2024, aged 71.[1]
Honours and awards
edit- 2005: Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) for service to the media as a sports broadcaster and commentator, and to the community.[12]
- 2019: National Rugby League Hall of Fame – Broadcast and Print Media[13]
- 2023: Sydney Cricket Ground Media Hall of Fame[14]
- 2024: Australian Rugby League Hall of Fame as contributor[15]
References
edit- ^ a b Jeffrey, Daniel (17 July 2024). "Broadcasting legend David Morrow died aged 71 after brain cancer fight". Nine News. Retrieved 17 July 2024.
- ^ a b "Great media personalities short-listed for Hall of Fame". National Rugby League. 6 August 2019. Retrieved 10 February 2024.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j "Morrow David – ABC News". www.abc.net.au. Retrieved 10 February 2024.
- ^ "SCG Media Hall of Honour". Sydney Cricket Ground. Retrieved 10 February 2024.
- ^ a b "Grandstand broadcaster David Morrow retires after 34 years at ABC". ABC News. 30 November 2014. Retrieved 10 February 2024.
- ^ Patterson, Sarah (8 February 2024). "David 'Thirsty' Morrow to retire from the Continuous Call Team". Radio Today. Retrieved 10 February 2024.
- ^ "David Morrow retires from Continuous Call Team amidst brain cancer diagnosis". radioinfo.com. 9 February 2024. Retrieved 17 July 2024.
- ^ "Morrow apologises for racist joke". ABC News. 9 May 2013. Retrieved 10 February 2024.
- ^ "Ryan and Morrow suspended over alleged racist remark". ABC News. 30 May 2014. Retrieved 10 February 2024.
- ^ Proszenko, Adrian (24 July 2014). "David Morrow to make brief return to ABC radio before retiring in November". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 10 February 2024.
- ^ McCracken, Tess (9 February 2024). "Legendary sports commentator David Morrow diagnosed with brain cancer". News.com.au. Retrieved 10 February 2024.
- ^ "Medal of the Order of Australia – David William Morrow". It's An Honour. Retrieved 10 February 2024.
- ^ "David 'Thirsty' Morrow brought to tears by NRL Hall of Fame nomination". 2GB. 7 August 2019. Retrieved 10 February 2024.
- ^ "David Morrow announced as 28th inductee of the SCG Media Hall of Honour". 2GB. 9 July 2023. Retrieved 10 February 2024.
- ^ "'It was very emotional': Morrow inducted into Hall of Fame". National Rugby League. 11 July 2024. Retrieved 17 July 2024.