George Grljusich
Encyclopedia
George Ned Grljusich was a sports journalist, commentator and former Australian rules football
er from Western Australia
.
at the University of Western Australia
, where he graduated in the same year as the future Chief Justice David Malcolm
, Solicitor-General of Western Australia, Peter Panegyres and Governor of Western Australia
, Malcolm McCusker
, but decided to remain in the media rather than practice law. In 1977 Grljusich stood unsuccessfully for the state Seat of Cockburn
.
debut for South Fremantle
in 1960 on the same day as his brother Tom
. While Tom went on to play over 200 matches for the Bulldogs, George quit football at the end of the 1960 season to pursue a media career. Two more of his brothers also played at WANFL league level - Don for South Fremantle and John for East Fremantle
.
sports commentary including a long running stay as the main sports announcer at 720 ABC Perth
. From 1996 he worked at commercial radio station 6PR
. In radio he commentated mainly on harness racing
, soccer and football, as well as hosting weekly sports talkback
radio, where his abrasive style often polarised his listeners.
Grljusich provided ABC coverage of six Olympic Games
: 1980 at Moscow, 1984 at Los Angeles, 1988 at Seoul, 1992 at Barcelona, 1996 at Atlanta and 2000 at Sydney, as well as ten Commonwealth Games
. In 2004, the media box at the Fremantle Oval
was officially renamed the George Grljusich Media Box in honour of the veteran broadcaster.
In October 2007, Grljusich retired from broadcasting after being diagnosed with terminal lung cancer
. He died on 6 November 2007, the day of the 2007 Melbourne Cup, aged 68.
In November 2007, Radio 6PR announced the establishment of the The George Grljusich Sport Broadcasting Award for students of the WAAPA Broadcasting course.
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...
er from Western Australia
Western Australia
Western Australia is a state of Australia, occupying the entire western third of the Australian continent. It is bounded by the Indian Ocean to the north and west, the Great Australian Bight and Indian Ocean to the south, the Northern Territory to the north-east and South Australia to the south-east...
.
Education
Grljusich studied LawBachelor of Laws
The Bachelor of Laws is an undergraduate, or bachelor, degree in law originating in England and offered in most common law countries as the primary law degree...
at the University of Western Australia
University of Western Australia
The University of Western Australia was established by an Act of the Western Australian Parliament in February 1911, and began teaching students for the first time in 1913. It is the oldest university in the state of Western Australia and the only university in the state to be a member of the...
, where he graduated in the same year as the future Chief Justice David Malcolm
David Malcolm
David Kingsley Malcolm, AC, QC is an Australian lawyer and was Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Western Australia from 1988 until his retirement from the bench on 7 February 2006....
, Solicitor-General of Western Australia, Peter Panegyres and Governor of Western Australia
Governor of Western Australia
The Governor of Western Australia is the representative in Western Australia of Australia's Monarch, Queen Elizabeth II. The Governor performs important constitutional, ceremonial and community functions, including:* presiding over the Executive Council;...
, Malcolm McCusker
Malcolm McCusker
Malcolm James McCusker, AO, CVO, QC is an Australian philanthropist and barrister who is the current Governor of Western Australia.-Life and career:...
, but decided to remain in the media rather than practice law. In 1977 Grljusich stood unsuccessfully for the state Seat of Cockburn
Electoral district of Cockburn
Cockburn is an electoral district of the Legislative Assembly in the Australian state of Western Australia.The district is based in Perth's south-western suburbs. Politically, it is a safe Labor seat.-Geography:...
.
Playing career
Grljusich made his West Australian National Football LeagueWest Australian Football League
The West Australian Football League is an Australian rules football league based in Perth, Western Australia. The WAFL is the second-most popular in the state, behind the nation-wide Australian Football League...
debut for South Fremantle
South Fremantle Football Club
The South Fremantle Football Club, nicknamed the Bulldogs, is an Australian rules football club, based in Fremantle, Western Australia, playing in the West Australian Football League...
in 1960 on the same day as his brother Tom
Tom Grljusich
Duje Tomy "Tom" Grljusich is a former Australian rules footballer who played for South Fremantle in the Western Australian National Football League and Central District in the South Australian National Football League...
. While Tom went on to play over 200 matches for the Bulldogs, George quit football at the end of the 1960 season to pursue a media career. Two more of his brothers also played at WANFL league level - Don for South Fremantle and John for East Fremantle
East Fremantle Football Club
The East Fremantle Football Club, nicknamed the Sharks, is an Australian rules football club playing in the West Australian Football League . The team's home ground is East Fremantle Oval...
.
Media career
His journalistic career focussed on radioRadio
Radio is the transmission of signals through free space by modulation of electromagnetic waves with frequencies below those of visible light. Electromagnetic radiation travels by means of oscillating electromagnetic fields that pass through the air and the vacuum of space...
sports commentary including a long running stay as the main sports announcer at 720 ABC Perth
720 ABC Perth
720 ABC Perth is a radio station located in Perth, Western Australia broadcasting on 720 kHz on the AM band. The station is a member of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation's ABC Local Radio network.-History:...
. From 1996 he worked at commercial radio station 6PR
6PR
6PR, known as 882 6PR, is a commercial radio station based in Perth, Australia. Its focus is on news, talk and sport, and is Perth's only commercial talkback radio station. 6PR is owned by Fairfax Media, an Australian media company that owns television and radio businesses throughout Australia and...
. In radio he commentated mainly on harness racing
Harness racing
Harness racing is a form of horse racing in which the horses race at a specific gait . They usually pull a two-wheeled cart called a sulky, although racing under saddle is also conducted in Europe.-Breeds:...
, soccer and football, as well as hosting weekly sports talkback
Talkback
Talkback may refer to:*Talkback , a 1983 album by the Canadian band the Spoons*Talkback, an alternate name for Marvel Comics superhero Chase Stein...
radio, where his abrasive style often polarised his listeners.
Grljusich provided ABC coverage of six Olympic Games
Olympic Games
The Olympic Games is a major international event featuring summer and winter sports, in which thousands of athletes participate in a variety of competitions. The Olympic Games have come to be regarded as the world’s foremost sports competition where more than 200 nations participate...
: 1980 at Moscow, 1984 at Los Angeles, 1988 at Seoul, 1992 at Barcelona, 1996 at Atlanta and 2000 at Sydney, as well as ten Commonwealth Games
Commonwealth Games
The Commonwealth Games is an international, multi-sport event involving athletes from the Commonwealth of Nations. The event was first held in 1930 and takes place every four years....
. In 2004, the media box at the Fremantle Oval
Fremantle Oval
Fremantle Oval is a stadium in the centre of Fremantle, Western Australia. It currently has a capacity of 17,500 with terracing and a members area holding 750. Fremantle Oval was originally used for cricket, but in 1895 hosted its first game of Australian rules football...
was officially renamed the George Grljusich Media Box in honour of the veteran broadcaster.
In October 2007, Grljusich retired from broadcasting after being diagnosed with terminal lung cancer
Lung cancer
Lung cancer is a disease characterized by uncontrolled cell growth in tissues of the lung. If left untreated, this growth can spread beyond the lung in a process called metastasis into nearby tissue and, eventually, into other parts of the body. Most cancers that start in lung, known as primary...
. He died on 6 November 2007, the day of the 2007 Melbourne Cup, aged 68.
In November 2007, Radio 6PR announced the establishment of the The George Grljusich Sport Broadcasting Award for students of the WAAPA Broadcasting course.