‘End of an era’: Emotional scenes as Ray Hadley’s family gathers in studio to celebrate his last day on air

The family of Australian radio star Ray Hadley has gathered in the studio to celebrate his final day on air in an emotional moment.

Australian radio star Ray Hadley’s daughter has broken down in tears as his family gathered in the studio during his final day on air.

Sarah Hadley burst into tears during Hadley’s farewell on 2GB on Friday after the radio icon announced his retirement in November.

“I just wanted to say something quickly because I always have to say something,” Ms Hadley said.

“It’s kind of an end of an era for me because I grew up in this building with you and coming to work with you as a little girl.

“I just felt so much love from everyone, and especially you, and seeing you and everyone congratulate you, I’m just so proud.”

Hadley’s daughter said she would “never forget this moment with us all”, as Hadley’s other children, grandchildren, wife and loved ones sat gathered in the studio.

“I can’t believe I got you as a dad, I’m so lucky to not only have you as a dad but as a pop,” she said.

Hadley then said he’d “better take a break”, with the program cutting to advertisements.

Ray Hadley was farewelled from radio by Ben Fordham on Friday. Picture: Supplied

VOICE THAT BROUGHT HADLEY TO TEARS

Hadley earlier became choked up and wiped away tears after he heard a snippet of his mother’s voice on radio during an emotional tribute to his illustrious career on his last day on air.

“Very emotional. I had heard my mother’s voice previously,” Hadley told listeners, choked up.

“I wasn’t gonna get upset. You’ve done this to me you little bludger.”

Fordham said Hadley had taught “everyone in this job to wear your heart on your sleeve”.

“I’ll just say this, having learned a bit about your family over the years — while you’ve lived a very different life to your parents, everyone was a hard worker, and that’s something that has flowed on now to your children as well,” Fordham said.

“I worked hard for great reward, mum and dad worked hard for no reward,” Hadley replied.

“And my children, and fortunately, my children’s husbands … and wife (are) of the same ilk, they come from stock that always wants to work and wants to be part of it.”

He announced his retirement in November. Picture: Supplied

Hadley also let out a few laughs during the tribute.

“There were some funny things in that too that made me laugh,” he said.

“And the thing that got me most was mum.”

Fordham earlier asked if he could play Hadley the tribute, with the radio star cheekily replying, “Well, you’re going to anyway.”

“This is a thing you do all the time,” Hadley quipped.

“’Can you do this?’ … Why do you ask me?”
“I like to have your permission,” Fordham replied.

“No, I say no, don’t play it, you’re going to play it anyway, so go,” Hadley laughed.

The tribute spanned Hadley’s entire career, from top sporting moments, interviews with Keith Urban, to his children speaking with him on air.

“Ray Hadley, this is your life,” Fordham said before it played.

Hadley became emotional when he heard his mother’s voice on air on Friday. Picture: Supplied.

Loyal listeners called into 2GB on Friday morning to farewell Hadley.

The radio icon was also given one of his own first radio awards during his last segment.

“I found it in your office,” Fordham said.

“So you pinched it, now you give it back … Correct?” Hadley replied.

“It’s the thought that counts,” Fordham joked.

GREATEST ‘CAN-DO’ ATTITUDE

Australian Rugby League Commission chair Peter V’landys also stopped by to farewell Hadley on Friday.

“We have been a mates for a long time, and I had to come in because you are a legend in the broadcasting industry,” Mr V’landys said.

He said he wouldn’t have joined the ARLC without the advice of Hadley, who told him he could do it.

“You’ve had a lot to play in relation to my career, I’ve always come to you for advice,” Mr V’landys said.

“And there’s one thing that I learned from you that a lot of people don’t have, and that’s the ‘can-do’ attitude.

“You have the greatest ‘can-do’ attitude I have ever seen of any person.

“You don’t look at the ways that you can’t do something, you look at the ways you can do something, and that’s why you’ve been so successful, and that’s why you’ve achieved as much as you have.”

He also said Hadley would be the first person he’d call if he wanted something done.

“If you’re in a trench in a war zone, you’d be the first bloke I’d come with because I know you’d have my back all the time,” he said.

“So that’s the sort of person you are, Ray.”

NSW Premier Chris Minns claimed Hadley gave him gray hairs. Picture: NewsWire / Nikki Short

GRAY HAIRS

Hadley revealed NSW Premier Chris Minns gave him his personal phone number, with Hadley giving him advice before he became premier.

“Before I became Labor leader we had a conversation. I remember pacing in the back of my back of my yard, and I asked you, ‘Well, you’ve interviewed all of them … what’s your view? How do I do this? It seems overwhelming, I’m not sure I can do it’,” Mr Minns said.

“And your response was, ‘Confront it head on, go straight towards the storm’.

“And then you said, ‘People say that I don’t give Labor a go’. You said, ‘I will give you a go – you come on my program, I will give you a go every day of the week’. And I’ve taken that to heart the whole way through.”

However, Minns then jokingly admitted the program had left him more stressed than question time in parliament.

“Can I tell you, though, I will say the gray hairs that I’ve accumulated since I’ve become premier as a result of you and 2GB rather than the NSW opposition. I want to make that absolutely (clear) … more than question time,” Mr Minns said.

“De-facto opposition here,” Hadley laughed.