A tearful David Koch signed his latest edition of Sunrise this morning surrounded by family, colleagues, former guests and Cash Cow.
“Kochie,” as families across the country called him, capped off a stellar streak of nearly 21 years on the air, with highlights, musical tributes, and a congalina of good-bye videos including Rita Ora, Jason Derulo, Sam Fischer, Guy Sebastian, Peking Duk, Daryl Braithwaite, Delta Goodrem, Amy Shark and there was a note from Dame Julie Andrews.
In attendance were his wife Libby, children and grandchildren, Natalie Barr, Melissa Doyle and Sam Armytage, the Sunrise team of Mark Beretta, Edwina Bartholomew, Sam Mac and crew.
The final show also featured guests PM Anthony Albanese, Beaconsfield survivors Brant Webb and Todd Russell, Joe Hockey and Kevin Rudd and international superstar and accordionist Hans.
Kochie said, “It was the most spectacular job, it was the greatest feat. I loved it. I couldn’t have done it alone, and I didn’t do it alone.
“It’s a life I’ve loved and am incredibly proud of. I love working with the people I work with and not sitting next to you (Natalie Barr) every day is going to be a huge adjustment.
He added: “Our viewers, you got us, you got our sense of humor, you understood what we stood for. I keep saying, sorry guys, what we do is kind of a crap job compared to paramedics and healthcare workers and first responders. But if we can bring some joy into your life, if we can inform you, entertain you every day and do good, I think that’s why we’re here. And this is the heart of Sunrise.”
Melissa Doyle: “THe relationship with viewers, the laughter, the crazy things we’ve done, funny things we did, but us I have to do everything under the radar. Remember the ROS Wall? You we would write topics, we would read emails. We sang, it was crazy. I think we have to do it in a way it was so natural to every single person, and all of us as a team. … Everyone has He’s been saying that all morning, Kochie, but the thing is it was always about the spectators. We were so aware from the start, we weren’t there for us, we were there for everyone at home to watch. We had a amazing platform we could do something with, and we did.
Sam Armytage: “There it was so many highlights, but what i I wanted to tell you today is this this job is so incredibly difficult and you can’t tell when you’re inside the work because no one wants to hear you complain, but when you are not in the work more can be said how difficult this is. There is so much scrutiny, to get up day after day and do this, resilience, the to drive, the ability, the energy to keep coming here every day and doing it is extraordinary. I I salute you absolutely. …After eight years, I couldn’t take it anymore. 21, I just think it’s extraordinary.
Kochie received a special message from a very special person this morning… pic.twitter.com/ntGZUpw8nX
— Sunrise (@sunriseon7) June 8, 2023
Goodbye Kochie! 👏 @kochie_online pic.twitter.com/G0qGqTpNvr
— Today’s Show (@TheTodayShow) June 8, 2023
This post updates.
