Chris Karas
Contributing Sports Reporter
Camden Haven News Of The Area
Port Macquarie News Of The Area
Port Stephens News Of The Area
CHRIS Karas has reached a 50-year milestone in sports journalism.
In that time he has covered sports including rugby league, cricket, Australian Rules, netball, golf, rugby, soccer, hockey, athletics, swimming, basketball, baseball, softball, paddling, rowing, surfing, water polo, squash and gymnastics; from grassroots to international level.
But his love of sport began on the field, not on the sideline.
“I was an active child and athlete who played rugby league, cricket, tennis, rugby, golf and soccer growing up,” Chris recalled.
“From the age of nine I was always writing school compositions with sporting themes, and was encouraged by my teachers to keep at it.”
Chris says he was a very inquisitive youngster who lapped up every opportunity to speak with a well-known athlete.
“My junior rugby league club, Glebe Police Boys, would play at half-time at Balmain Tigers matches at Leichhardt Oval and we would sit outside the field of play,” Chris said.
“As an eight-year-old I would walk up to Arthur Beetson, who was playing for the Tigers at that time, and ask him questions.
“My teammates were horrified.”
He began his journalism career as a schoolboy in 1976.
“I soon developed a passion for sports writing and, from the age of 15, was writing a sports column and articles for The Guardian newspaper while studying at school,” Chris recalled.
As a junior, Chris represented Balmain in the Harold Matthews Cup, S G Ball Cup, Jersey Flegg Cup and NSWRL Under-23 competitions.
“I grew up with Wayne Pearce and Steve Roach and played alongside them as a centre-five eighth for the Balmain junior rep teams,” Chris said.
“I had to sacrifice my sporting career for sports journalism, but I’ve loved every minute of it.”
Chris went on to spend 36 years as Sports Editor of The Weekly Times newspaper in Ryde.
“I developed a strong passion for sports history and became an author in 2008 when I wrote my first book, ‘From Fraser to Farah – a History of The Balmain Junior League 1908-2008’ during the league’s centenary year,” Chris said.
He is also the author of two other sports history books – ‘Friends for Life: Centenary of Leichhardt Wanderers Junior Rugby League Club 1911-2011’; plus the ‘History of Ryde-Eastwood Leagues Club 1963-2003’.
Chris covered the Sydney Olympics in 2000 and is the long-serving historian of the Balmain Tigers Rugby League Club.
He served over 30 years with the Ryde Sports Foundation and is the recipient of a NSW Premier’s Award.
Today Chris and his family live in the Port Stephens area and he enjoys writing on local sporting exploits in the News Of The Area publications.
“I have interviewed some of Australia’s greatest sporting champions during my career and continue to enjoy recognising the skills of up-and-coming sportsmen and women at a local level,” Chris said.
Chris’s love of sport is hard-wired into his persona and he simply loves telling the stories of local athletes and their experiences.
As is the case for many in this post-COVID world, much of Chris’s interviewing is now done over the phone and he writes from his home office.
He would love to help tell the stories of Camden Haven athletes – of all abilities, ages, stages and sports.
You can contact Chris at chris@newsofthearea.com.au
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Last week we introduced you to the inimitable reporting all-rounder Rachael Thorpe.
Today it is our great pleasure to introduce you to Chris Karas.
Chris is crazy about sports and he’s joined our Camden Haven team to fill a very important void – that of a dedicated sports writer.
Don’t be daunted by his resume; he’s one of the nicest people you’ll ever speak with. And, he does love a chat.
With the changing of the seasons, Chris would love to hear from people involved in summer sports, with a view to publishing regular results, match reports, player profiles and the like.
Please reach out and let us help you spread the news.
Kindest regards,
Eve Nesmith
Group Editor, News Of The Area.
media@newsofthearea.com.au
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