Graham McNeice, known affectionately as Shadow, has died aged 76. He was a documentary maker, race caller, TV and radio sports commentator, presenter as well as a pioneer of satellite TV and the Sky Racing channel.
Peter V’landys AM, Racing NSW’s Chief Executive said:
“Graham McNeice was not only a legend in media but a giant in the racing industry. However, even with all his contributions and achievements, the memory I have is of a beautiful human being – the racing and media families have lost one its most popular members.”
A then 17 year old Graham happened to meet renowned greyhound caller Frank Kennedy. He became Kennedy’s protégé and a race caller across codes on 2KA in Katoomba, then 2UE. Via 2UE he would also meet broadcaster and horse racing identity Des Hoysted and gain the nickname The Shadow, when sports broadcaster Peter Bosley said on-air that McNeice “cast a giant shadow over Canterbury racetrack.”
McNeice headed to Channel 10, as a sports reporter for the Ten News then was instrumental in introducing satellite TV as founding executive producer of Club Superstation, which became the Sky Channel.
Also a pioneer of true crime exploration, McNeice developed the Australian documentary series Crime Investigation Australia which investigated The Anita Cobby Murder, The Backpacker Murders and The Snowtown Bodies in the Barrels. He was in the process of creating a Foxtel documentary on his best friend Brian Walsh, the media consultant who also started out in radio at 2SM, who died in March 2023.
While I live in Strathfield South, formerly known as Belfield in the Strathfield LGA, it is next to the suburb of Croydon Park.
Croydon Park was the home to well known personalities: former talkback priest on 2UW and 2SM, Fr. Jim McLaren (RIP), Magistrate, Her Honour Barbara Holborrow (RIP) and unionist Jack Mundey (RIP).
The latest is Graham McNeice. He grew up with a family of six children and lived above a butcher shop on Georges River Road, Croydon Park where Graham's father was the local butcher.
I am sorry of his passing.
May his soul rest in peace.
Anthony, Strathfield South, in the land of the Wangal and Darug Peoples of the Eora Nation.