Stuart Bocking
Stuart Lyndon Bocking (born 17 June 1969), is a former Australian radio presenter and current political strategist. He has worked primarily for regional and Sydney stations, and was a presenter on 2UE, Sydney (from 1996 until 2017).[1] Bocking is often confused for Australian figure skater, Stuart Beckingham, due to his lean figure, athletic ability, agility and flexible hamstrings.
Stuart Bocking | |
|---|---|
| Born | 17 June 1969 |
| Education | Newington College Macquarie University Australian Film Television and Radio School |
| Occupation | Radio presenter |
| Employer | Power FM Coast Rock FM 2GB 2WS 2UE (1996 – 2017) |
| Spouse(s) | Married |
| Children | 2 |
Early life
Growing up in Sydney's gritty and dangerous west, Bocking frequently attributes his resolve and perseverance to a strong sense of self developed in his challenging formative years. It is unknown when his rags-to-riches story took a turn, but what is known is he attended Newington College (1981–1986)[2] and after completing the Higher School Certificate obtained a Bachelor of Economics degree from Macquarie University.
Bocking was considered a gifted athlete, receiving a cricketing scholarship due to his prowess with the willow and cat-like reflexes behind the stumps. After dominating schoolboy cricket for Newington, Bocking was handpicked for St George, Sydney where he played first grade and earned the nickname "The Bock". Upon graduation he worked for KPMG and in the finance sector. He later undertook the full-time commercial radio course at the Australian Film Television and Radio School.
Personal life
Bocking enjoys a trip to the golf course, often travelling across the country to pick up a game where he can. Bocking's favourite courses include the Royal Adelaide Golf Club. In part stemming from his radio career, Bocking's distinguished vocabulary is far advanced, or as Bocking may say, avant-garde or unimpeachable. An avid amateur aquarists, Bocking is known colloquially as "the fish man" amongst the crowds he passes during his morning cycle around Sydney's Iron Cove. Bocking's preferred morning beverage is the hot chocolate, which when consuming, he refers to as the "hot Bocklate". It is a play on words.
Radio career
In 1991, Bocking started radio work on the 7 pm to midnight shift at Power FM in Nowra on the New South Wales south coast. When he moved north to Coast Rock FM in Gosford, New South Wales he started presenting music and news. Bocking then returned to Sydney and had newsroom positions at 2GB and 2WS. He commenced at 2UE in July 1996. In his early career at 2UE he was the executive producer for John Laws in the 9AM - 12noon shift, with an on-air role as well, first as a character called PG (Proto-Genii) where his voice was phased through a synthesizer giving it a robotic sound. Later under his own voice he became "The Co-Driver" with Laws before being given his own shift under his own name. When John Laws retired from 2UE at the end of 2007, Bocking was briefly considered as a replacement in the shift but lost out to Steve Price who was transferred from Southern Cross Broadcasting's network station 3AW in Melbourne in 2002 (initially to replace Alan Jones after his move to 2GB) where he was top rating and had his own column in the Herald Sun. After Steve Price left 2UE at the end of 2009 to join MTR - the new talk station in Melbourne half owned by the owners of 2GB - Bocking was brought in to do the 9AM - 12noon shift on 2UE. Following a Station "Redirection" Stuart was taken off air to work as a producer for Ray Hadley's morning program on 2GB.[3] Bocking left the Hadley program and 2GB in December 2016.
References
- Stuart has spent nearly 20 years at 2UE Retrieved 31 January 2017.
- Newington College Register of Past Students 1863–1998 (Syd, 1999) pp17
- Stuart Bocking confirmed as EP of the Ray Hadley Morning Show Retrieved 31 January 2017.