ABC Radio Sydney Weekend Mornings presenter Simon Marnie has announced he will finish with the ABC at the end of the year.
Simon started his career at 2UW in the 1980s where his love of radio really took hold.
In 1993 he joined the ABC in his first on air role as a presenter on triple j. He spent 10 years with the youth network but says, “it’s like being at Woodstock: if you can remember it, you probably weren’t there”.
Simon has also worked in Television conceiving and producing the SBS music show, nomad and reported on TVTV on the ABC.
Simon returned to ABC Radio in 1996, this time to ABC Radio Sydney where he has remained since.
Simon broke the news of the September 11 attacks to local radio across the nation and continued to broadcast for 15 hours across that night
He presented various programs on 702 ABC Radio Sydney including NightLife before landing his much-loved Weekend Mornings slot in 2000.
Since then, Simon has spent his weekends connecting city and country by sharing stories and broadcasting from communities across metropolitan and regional areas.
His programs enticed audiences with discussions about food, culture and the diversity of Sydney and NSW life and he has been recognised by some of the state’s leading chefs as a great supporter of Australian food and hospitality.
Simon continued to broadcast throughout COVID, setting up a studio in his sunroom throughout the peak of the pandemic.
Simon says, “Sydney weekends are about leisure, relaxing and fun and this city is one of the best in Australia – we cover as many events as possible to show the diversity of cultures, people and regions that make up the Greater Sydney Region.”
Simon has presented 100s of hours of Emergency Broadcasting for communities throughout NSW during floods, bushfires and other natural disasters.
He demonstrated his support for bushfire impacted communities from Bermagui to Nymboida by taking the program on the road for a series of live Road to Recovery broadcasts following the 2019/20 bushfire season.
Simon said: “While saddened to leave my colleagues and my treasured audience I am looking forward to the many opportunities that this opportunity will present. My parents had 2BL on every morning, it was such a rich part of my life and I’m eagerly awaiting the next stage. I will miss everyone very much”
ABC Director Audio Ben Latimer said “Our audience have loved easing into the weekends with Simon over the years and learning about what was happening in Sydney and beyond. I am sure many of our audience have discovered something new about where they live by listening to Simon on a Saturday or Sunday morning.
“I would like to thank Simon for his contribution to the program, and his dedication to bringing the audience the very best experiences from Sydney and across the state and his commitment to connecting with audiences in metro and regional areas.”
Simon is inviting audiences to join him one last time for the Weekend Show Christmas Picnic at Jazz @ The House at Government House in Sydney tomorrow, Sunday 1 December.