G'day and welcome

G’day, Kochie here. Tall bloke, balding, big nose, appears on that Channel 7 breakfast program, Sunrise.

Welcome to the “official” Kochie blog. Hopefully it will become a regular meeting place for us. A place you’ll find full of ideas and opinion, where I can talk about the things I love - business, finance, economies - plus other things which catch my attention.

I want this to be a place where anyone can stop by and get some tips for their business or home finances, ask me questions, or just check out what I think of Port Power’s last match.

And lets not forget to have a bit of a laugh as well.

Hope you like it. Leave some comments, drop me a line.

Welcome aboard.

WHO THE HELL IS KOCHIE?

The Media Man

David Koch is one of Australia’s most recognised television personalities, having co-hosted the nation’s number one breakfast show, Sunrise, since 2001. He has the privilege of joining people in their kitchens and living rooms all across Australia every morning.

Along with various Channel 7 commitments Kochie (with wife Libby) is the personal finance commentator for the weekly Your Money section of News Limited newspapers and a columnist with New Idea.

He appears frequently on radio giving financial commentary and is the host of Australia’s only small business program, Kochie’s Business Builders, on channel 7.

A Reader’s Digest survey found he is among the top 50 most respected people in Australia.

The Finance Nerd

Before stumbling in to the Sunrise gig, Kochie was busy being the finance nerd he so proudly confesses to.

After studying accountancy, he joined The Australian newspaper as a cadet business journalist and then joined BRW magazine soon after it was established.

Koch created Personal Investment magazine and is regarded as the pioneer of personal finance journalism in Australia. He also created Money Management newspaper and My Business magazine.

Not only has Kochie always had a passion for personal finance and small business, he has walked the talk. For the last 25 years he has always been involved in a family business which he has seen as his insurance policy against getting fired from the media.

During those 25 years he has experienced the usual rollercoaster ride of owning a business… from great successes to teetering on the brink.

He was a director of the NSW Small Business Development Corporation for eight years and now a director of Pinstripe Media Pty Ltd which produces small business products on television and the web as well as events.

The Author

Kochie has been publishing books since he knew how. He has released 12 books, many of them in partnership with his wife Libby. Kochie’s Joke Books have been hugely popular as well as the family finance guides I’m Not Made of Money and Kochie’s Guide to Keeping it Real. Kochie’s booklets to surviving the recession helped thousands of small businesses stay on their feet through 2009.

The Real Man

At the end of the day, Kochie is your average bloke. Married to Libby for 31 years, four adult kids, two sons in law and 2 grandkids; he’s a big family man.

Like any Aussie bloke, he loves sport and is no.1 ticket holder of the Port Adelaide football club.

His mid-life crisis has entailed climbing Mt Kilimanjaro (twice), walking the Kokoda Track and trekking in Patagonia.

He’s also a passionate supporter of Father Chris Riley’s Youth Off The Streets and serves on the Advisory Committee of the Australian Organ Transplant Authority.