In November last year, long-time Nine Radio 2GB host Ray Hadley revealed live on-air that he was retiring from radio after more than 40 years.
But, sadly, his retirement so far hasn’t been as idyllic as he may have originally thought, as his 3-year-old granddaughter has heartbreakingly been diagnosed with leukaemia.
“I’ve asked my daughter and son Laura, if I can reveal this, and they’ve given me permission,” Ray emotionally shared with The Daily Telegraph. “On January 6, my three year old granddaughter, Lola, was diagnosed with leukaemia and that was like a bolt out of the blue.
“In a former life, I was an auctioneer, so I get called on quite a bit to do charity auctions … (for) mainly children with, you know, really severe problems …. when it hits you in your own family, you understand the gravity of it, the financial impact on a family, the emotional impact, the physical impact, and no one can imagine what it’s like.”
Ray is a grandfather-of-seven, and has said that his entire family is drawing strength from “little smiling Lola,” who has remained strong during this extremely difficult time.
“It’s a two-year battle… this little baby girl has had a lumbar puncture yesterday, that’ll be her seventh, she’s had a biopsy and bone marrow six times all under general anaesthetic,” he said.
“She’s got tubes coming out of her left right and centre…they attacked the leukaemia and the tests came back a week ago which weren’t as good as we hoped so now they’ve really doubled down. She’s got four chemos a week.”
Ray added that he doesn’t believe in fate but he feels his decision to retire and move home to NSW’s Central Coast to be close to his children was meant to be.
“I don’t think I believe in fate … but I think that something must have pre-empted my retirement so that I can do what I’m doing now in relation to my granddaughter and my family. Because if I was still working, I wouldn’t been able to do it.”
The sad news comes after Ray announced his radio retirement live on air in November 2024. The 70-year-old declared that he felt it was time for him to move on.
“So December 13 will be my last day broadcasting,” Ray Hadley shared in his statement.
“It’s been a hell of a ride from a young bloke who wanted to call the races. But the time has come for someone else to do the job.
“I’ve achieved far more than I ever thought I would. My children, Dan, Laura, Emma and Sarah, have made sacrifices over the years for me to realise my ambitions.
“Seven years ago, I had no grandchildren. Now I have seven. Over three years ago, I married the most amazing woman, Sophie, for over 18 years she’s been my colleague now, she’s the most supportive, calming loving wife anyone could ask for. And she deserves a break.”
Radio insiders revealed that they thought he was keen to move into the next phase of his life and focus more on his family.
Ray Hadley’s radio show was rated number one in Sydney since 2003, and his $9 million contract reportedly makes him the Nine Network’s highest paid talent – more than Hamish Blake receives for Lego Masters.
His long-standing career began more than 40 years ago, in 1981, when he became a traffic reporter at 2UE. Ray stayed there for 19 years before moving to 2GB and working in breakfast radio.
The 70-year-old was also inducted into the Australian Commercial Radio & Audio (ACRA) Hall of Fame in 2017, and remains the most awarded broadcaster in history.
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