Anthony Maroon

Career

In late 1989, Maroon graduated from the well-known private Sydney radio school, Max Rowley's Media Academy, and headed for his first on-air radio job at station 2NZ in Inverell, New South Wales. At that time, Maroon was still an extreme rookie, not knowing how to fly the station's on-air equipment, read commercials or project his voice in a professional manner.

An early influence on Maroon was another 2NZ announcer, New Zealand born Jason West, who later changed his name, completed a Journalism MA, and went to work as an Overseas Foreign Correspondent for the BBC World Service. West coached Anthony in several areas such as how to project personality, speaking 1-to-1 and the broadcast concept of "just one listener".

After West left 2NZ (referring to the station as a backward place to work and the town of Inverell as "Inver-Hell"), Maroon soon followed. It was then late 1990. Maroon landed a job doing drive (the early evening slot) at Goulburn station 2GN. From here he quickly progressed to the breakfast position and became one of the more popular of past 2GN breakfast hosts, being able to identify with a country audience that loved sport and the simpler things in life.

Maroon's third station was i98FM in Wollongong, where he commenced back on the late evening shift (a shift he had not done since 2NZ days), but soon after progressed to the breakfast program. It was in Wollongong that Maroon became a TV figure, hosting the football program on the local channel, WIN TV.

A few years later, Maroon scored what he said back in 2NZ days would be his ultimate dream: "to work back in Sydney, my home town - but work in radio." After being offered a job doing late evenings at Sydney station 2MMM, he packed up his bags and quickly transferred his life back to Sydney.

In January 2008, after years of doing nights at 2MMM, Maroon took on the role of anchor for the breakfast radio show The Shebang, and commentator of Triple M's Monday Night Football alongside Phil Gould and Jimmy Smith. In December, Maroon joined Vega 95.3 as a drive presenter, replacing Jason Stavely. He also hosts the post-game functions at the Stadium Australia Stadium Australia for the South Sydney Rabbitohs, and in 2010 was calling North Queensland Cowboys rugby league games on the weekend for 4TO FM in Townsville and 99.5 Sea FM in Cairns.

In mid-2012, Maroon returned to Triple M Sydney as a fill in presenter until in December 2012 he replaced Rod "Love Rod" Maldon for the afternoon shift (1PM - 4PM). In 2013 though he swapped shifts with Chris "Becko" Beckhouse and now does the 9 AM - 12PM shift.

It's been said by Maroon's agent, that his major strength is his ability to "read an audience". The BBC's Jason West remembers the young Maroon, stating that "Anthony was never the most intellectual, deep thinking guy, but he has a huge ability to instantly make friends, utilizing other people for the skills he needs to learn most - and then bravely using the new skills, whether really ready or not". In hindsight, it is quite an achievement that Maroon has got to where he is, after working for only three stations (2NZ, 2GN and i98). Yet, apart from abilities already outlined, Maroon is the ideal Sydney radio personality type: Sydney is his native turf, his cousin Darren Maroon played for the Rabbitohs during the late 80s and early 90s and Anthony Maroon's background has been very much working class, the same people he talks to on a daily basis.

Maroon is married to Christine, and has two children.