Stephen Quartermain opens up on his 40 year career at Network Ten

As he marks his 40-year milestone, Stephen Quartermain says he’s lucky to have learned his craft in the footy world of the 1980s, and even luckier the network stuck with him through his “rough as guts” first attempts at presenting.

Stephen Quatermain with former colleague Eddie McGuire in 1991.

From an inauspicious job interview venue, Stephen Quartermain has forged a gilt-edged career spanning 40 years at Network Ten.

“I can still remember my job interview with (renowned newsreader) David Johnston at Denny’s in Nunawading,’’ Quartermain said.

That was 1984, and the move to Ten in December came at the urging of other sports journalism legends Eddie McGuire and Bruce McAvaney.

“Bruce McAvaney and a very young Eddie came up to me at the races. I was at the ABC and they said, ‘Look we’d love you to join us’. That was it, and I went and had an interview and a few weeks later I was at Ten.

“(Johnston) gave me a good old-fashioned grilling. He was short and sharp and it must have been OK because I got a job. Being an old school journo, he was always to the point and forthright.

“He was the newsreader and there was a director of news, but David was pretty much the heavy hitter and he was asked to run an eye over me and decide whether I was suitable for the business.

“He had just finished reading with Jana Wendt, and Jo Pearson had just joined us. Eventually he did take over for a while as boss. He was a mover and shaker.”

Quartermain at home with wife Paige. Picture: Mark Stewart

Quartermain takes great pride in his longevity, in a career that has seen him become one of Melbourne’s most recognisable and respected figures in broadcasting, having risen through the ranks after early jobs as a journalist in newspaper and radio.

Quartermain was a rival of McGuire’s for a short time before they became colleagues, and while they keep in touch, now they certainly “don’t hit the town like we used to”.

Times were different in the 1980s when they were plying their trade.

“We had a very good time through to the early ’90s,’’ Quartermain said.

“We worked very hard and we played pretty hard too. Back then it was very different.

“We did our work out socialising. There was no such thing as media managers. We developed relationships by going out and meeting players and managers and administrators and you had the old-fashioned contact book.

“We got to know people by socialising and gaining their trust the old-fashioned journo way, and sadly that’s a thing of the past. The old way was a fun way. You earned trust and respect by being out in a social situation. Everything is manufactured to the nth degree now.”

It only took Quartermain about a month to start reporting sport on the weekends, and in early 1985 he made his first foray into presenting as a weekend sport newsreader.

“It was quite a horrendous experience early, having had virtually no experience presenting,’’ Quartermain recalled.

“I was rough as guts but managed to find my feet. I was thrown in the deep end. After a rough start they showed faith in me. That was back in ’85 and away we went.

“It seemed to be a natural progression as I always had an interest in electronic media. Mike Willesee was always someone who was a role model for me and someone I admired. I didn’t have any ambition to do TV, it was a natural progression and the way my career mapped out.

“I love radio and I still do bits and pieces. The ABC radio was a fantastic grounding for me. They taught me so much and I did everything from learning to be a producer, director to voice training and writing, and had great people giving me advice. I was very lucky to learn my craft in the ’80s.”

Quartermain in his Triple M days in 1997.

As Channel Ten sports presenter in 1998.

It’s now 40 years on and Quartermain often wonders, “Where has the time gone?”

When Ten had the footy broadcast rights he was the primetime caller and many of his commentary moments have gone into footy folklore with his personality shining through too.

Most famously, he called the 2005 grand final between Sydney and West Coast, and in the final moments of a game Sydney won by four points, West Coast were making one late surge when Sydney defender Leo Barry launched at the back of a pack of players to take a game-saving mark.

“Leo Barry, you star,” Quartermain yelled, in a call that will live forever.

He is still reading sport after a brief time as newsreader, and he’ll be back on radio next year calling footy on SEN at the urging of his two children, Jack, 28, and Scarlett, 20, after the success of Hawks radio.

He also just did a cameo calling some fourth-grade cricket for his Ten colleague Nick Butler which went viral online and underlined his popularity.

“I obviously had a really strong passion for sport and that’s how I attracted the attention of Ten,’’ Quartermain said.

“It was the fun round, particularly in this town. I started as a 17 year-old cadet and had already had five years in the business before I went to Ten. It’s always been in the blood.

“My dad was a journo, I was always a sports nut and always had a passion for news and reading newspapers. It was just in the blood and my father was very much into it. Maybe I unwittingly followed in my father’s footsteps. I was lucky I ended up falling into the area that I really loved, and my brother has also had a brilliant career in journalism.”

Quartermain married the love of his life, Paige, 21 years ago after being together for 25 years.

He says their relationship provides support and inspiration.

“She works in the media business so understands and rides the ups and downs,’’ he said.

“Sadly, she’s a Cats supporter in an all-Hawthorn home. So that can create difficulties on match day,” he adds with a laugh.

“She’s also chair of an amazing breast cancer charity called Treasure Chest. They do incredible work in providing aftercare for cancer patients. I’m proud of what she and her colleagues do.”

Ten's football commentary team in 2001: (From left) Robert Walls, Peter Daicos, Anthony Hudson, Stephen Silvagni, Stephen Quartermain and Michael Christian.

Quartermain says it’s “mind boggling” that he’s marking 40 years when some in the Ten newsroom aren’t even 40 years old — but he’s thrilled that experience is valued.

He and Ten News First newsreader Jennifer Keyte have a combined 85 years of experience in the industry. “Most of the people at work can’t believe it’s been 40 years and they find it amusing,’’ he said.

“Jen and I are real old school given we’re both over 60 – and then there’s a fairly big gap. Experience should be valued more in the Australian media. I know it is in the US model or the UK. I’m not sure it is in the Australian model but it’s great we can offer advice. I really enjoy that side, and if anyone asks for advice I’m happy to give it.

“It’s been an unbelievable rollercoaster at Ten. Myself, Sandra Sully, Jen has gone and come back.

“A lot of the Ten newsreaders have been around a long time so I’m glad the network values it. You don’t have to be 28 and look like Elle Macpherson or Brad Pitt — experience counts.”

Now doing four days a week, Quartermain hopes to continue for many more years while the passion is still high.

“I still love it, I still love the news business. The newsroom environment is like being in a football locker room, it’s just so funny,” he said.

“That’s one of the things I love. I’m really enjoying it and it really suits me and as long as they want me I’ll keep doing it.”