Australia Day Honours: Ex-Sunrise host David ‘Kochie’ Koch recognised for service to media
By David Koch’s own admission, he’s just a finance nerd, whose breakfast TV hobby got out of control.
Kochie, as he was known as he graced screens across Australia for more than two decades, stood down as Seven’s Sunrise host late last year, to pursue more of what he loves.
The 67-year-old has been recognised in this year’s Australia Day Honours List for significant service to media as a television presenter, and to economic journalism.
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By continuing you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy.“I’ve always loved the Honours list — reading through people who’ve done amazing things in their communities, whether it be the bowling club or the local women’s shelter,” Koch said.
“That’s the core of who we are as a community.”
Fronting the ratings-winning Sunrise was the “perfect job” for Koch because he got to interview thousands of people, sharing that community spirit.
“Every single one of them had a story that intrigued me. I loved it because of the people I met and it reinforces to you that we do live in the best country in the world,” he said.
“You’d never live anywhere else because of the people that do such great things in the community, the community spirit of the average Australian is just mind-boggling.”
But Koch’s most important role he said was sharing accessible financial information for all Australians. It has always been a driver for Koch’s career he said, starting the Personal Investment magazine in 1985, Australian Financial Press in 1990, and Pinstripe Media in 2005.
“I wanted to focus on giving information to the partner of the chief executive, or their brother and sister or their mum and dad who needed that information to make really sensible financial decisions,” Koch said.
“Because chief executives there I know more than I did, as a journalist so write for them. That was that whole consumer finance area I started and is really important for me and still is today.
“I’ve always been a finance nerd. Sunrise was sort of a hobby that got completely out of control. I loved every minute of it. But I’m a finance nerd at heart — always will.”
