| Derryn
Hinch
Derryn
Hinch used to threaten that he would eventually
write an autobiography and call it “Famous
People Who Have Met Me.” He was joking.
Eventually
he did write a kind of personal biography about the
private thoughts of a public person but he used his
catchphrase as the title: THAT’S
LIFE.
And
in his case what a life it has been. A national magazine
once referred to him as “the former Derryn Hinch”.
And
there have been a lot of “former” situations
in his life.
He
is a former police rounds reporter, former foreign
correspondent, former newspaper editor, former host
of national current affairs shows, former novelist,
former radio host in Melbourne, Sydney and Adelaide,
former MIDDAY host and
former jailbird.
Yes,
Derryn spent 12 days in jail over a contempt of court
charge when he revealed the name of a convicted child
molester.
For
eleven years Hinch covered both North and South America
for the Sydney Morning Herald
and other Fairfax papers as well as the Macquarie
Radio Station.
He
was there on the spot when man first went to the moon.
He
was there for such turning points in history as the
assassinations of Martin Luther King Jr and Bobby
Kennedy. He was there when President Nixon resigned
at the peak of the Watergate scandal.
He
has reported from China, India, Africa, Canada, the
Caribbean, England, Europe, the United States. Covered
events like the famine in Ethiopia.
In
sports he covered the U.S Open, the PGA and The Masters
in golf and the U.S Open in Tennis.
He
spent so much time in Newport covering the America’s
Cup that he wrote a novel about it called “Death
in Newport”.
In
politics Hinch has met every Australian Prime Minister
from Bob Menzies to John Howard. He has been in the
Oval Office at the White House. Interviewed such diverse
politicians as Senator Edward Kennedy and Andrew Peacock.
In
entertainment Hinch has interviewed such big names
as Elizabeth Taylor, Richard Burton, Sophia Loren,
Harrison Ford, Catherine Deneuve, Mae West, Peter
Finch and Rod Taylor.
At
home here in Australia he has interviewed every major
male and female star over the years — and was
also married to a national icon, Jacki Weaver, for
fourteen years.
He
remains the only person to have interviewed fugitive
businessman Christopher Skase in Majorca since he
fled Australia.
Hinch
has a unique opinionated, often controversial view
of history.
And
he can talk about it lucidly, colourfully and entertainingly.
Despite
the sometimes gruff exterior that beamed out of the
television set into your living room in prime time
for all those years he does have a sharp, sometimes
shrewd sense of humour.
His
appeal apparently bridges the so called generation
gap.
He
has made several national appearances on Triple
J Radio and won an Adelaide nightclub competition
as Adelaide’s Most Popular
Personality. The patrons of the club –
between the ages of 18 – 25. When he asked several
how they even knew him one said “You’re
a Legend, Dezza”. Another explained that when
she was growing up her mother would say ”hurry
up and finish your dinner. Hinch is on in ten minutes”.
Derryn
Hinch first joined 3AW
in 1979. He went on to become the undisputed King
of Melbourne radio – with the highest morning
ratings ever achieved then or now --before leaving
to start the top-rating HINCH
on the Seven Network.
He
re-joined 3AW for the third time (after a year doing
Nightline in 2000) in
February 2003.
Hinch
has his own website www.hinch.net
on which he posts daily editorials. It also features
his Sir Hinchalot restaurant reviews, travel articles,
his Sunday Herald Sun
columns, the Hinch News Club and book offers.
His
manager is Marina Paul. She can be contacted at delray@ozemail.com.au
Derryn
Hinch makes rare appearances at conferences and as
an after-dinner guest.
He
is an entertaining, informative guest speaker. He
is fast on his feet and is happy to answer any and
all questions.
Proof
of this was his one-hour performance at the National
Press Club without a single note, which was
televised by the ABC.
And
wasn’t a touch nervous.
But
somebody once said:
That's
Life.
*The
author of this website, Greg Tingle, would like to
publicly thank Derryn Hinch for his encouragement
and support.
Hinch
gets jail
Interview
Derryn
Hinch
Book
Review
That's
Life
Profiles
Radio
Books
and Authors
News
Derryn
Hinch attends Virgin
Blue Hanger Ball 2008
Media
Man Australia does not represent Derryn Hinch
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