Australian television icon Ray Martin has announced his retirement from the board of the South Sydney Rabbitohs after nearly 20 years in the job.
Martin, a lifelong diehard Bunnies fan and Souths Board Director since 2006, has decided to step down from his position with the club.
Club Chairman, Nicholas Pappas, thanked the 80-year-old veteran journalist for his hard work over the years.
‘Few have contributed as much, and for so long, to the Rabbitohs as Ray Martin.,’ said Pappas.
‘In the most difficult of times, Ray pinned his hard-won media reputation to the fortunes of the Club and, in so doing, inspired thousands to follow his lead and join with us in the fight for reinstatement.
‘I know that Ray will never be far from our side, but it is only fitting that I express on behalf of our Members our undying appreciation to Ray for his fortitude, his humility and his unshakeable loyalty to the Rabbitohs and everything our Club stands for.
Legendary veteran of Australian television Ray Martin has retired from the South Sydney Rabbitohs Board of Directors
The club thanked Martin, who has been in the job for nearly twenty years
‘Thank you, Ray.’
The Souths club will be organising an event to pay tribute to Martin’s contribution later in the year.
Last month, Martin made a huge profit after selling the family home he has owned on Sydney ‘s north shore for thirty-five years.
The 80-year-old, who won five Gold Logies, sold the five-bedroom, three-bathroom mansion for a reported $8 million.
Martin and his wife Dianne bought the luxurious 1930s-era house in Waverton in 1990 for $900,000.
The beautiful home, known as Finisterre, sold for between $8million and $8.5million after being listed on January 1, reported The Daily Telegraph.
Martin, who began his career in journalism at the ABC in 1965, shot to fame in the 1970s as one of the original team of reporters for Channel Nine’s 60 Minutes.
He then hosted the popular Midday Show on Nine between 1985 and 1993.
Martin began his stellar career in journalism at the ABC in 1965
Last month, Martin made a huge profit after selling the family home in Sydney
Martin, who was known for his warm on-air style, won his first Gold Logie in 1987.
He took home the coveted prize four years in a row between 1993 and 1996.
The much-loved star made headlines after dramatically quitting his long-time ‘TV home’ at Nine in 2008 after budget cuts for the Sunday program.
In 2024, he hosted Ray Martin: The Last Goodbye, which explored various taboos surrounding death.
Martin, who has been married to wife Dianne for fifty years, said in a statement that statistically, he is only four years away from his own death.
The series investigated various funeral trends and rituals and will address some deep questions, including why people choose certain ceremonies, songs and resting places.
Last year, Martin insisted that he still has a lot of life left in him, as he grows older gracefully.
‘I’m never going to retire. David Attenborough is in his 90s and he’s my role model. He says you’ve got to keep doing what you love,’ he told Woman’s Day magazine.
However, he has admitted his former workaholic lifestyle prevented him from enjoying the important things in life and he was now correcting that mistake.
‘I lived in New York for 10 years as the ABC correspondent and I worked eight days a week. Yet I think of all the things I didn’t do and should have done.
‘You’ve got forever to sleep, you’ve got to have a go.’
The esteemed A Current Affair host added that as he gets older he is more committed than ever to spending time with his children Jenna and Luke and two grandchildren.
