Interview with TV presenter David Koch, “Kochie”

David Koch is co-host of the Seven Network’s morning program Sunrise, along with Melissa Doyle. David has been a highly respected finance journalist for almost 20 years, appearing on all of Seven’s news programs, before signing up with Sunrise.

David has written several best selling books on finance including I’m Not Made of Money, a parent’s guide to teaching kids about money, which he co-authored with his wife, Libby. He has since co-authored four books with his eldest daughter, Samantha.

Despite his enormous workload, David still finds time to pursue his many interests while also dedicating time to local community groups. He is an avid rugby union fan (he used to play grade rugby for Warringah), a devoted Sydney Swans follower and can often be seen in the stands at Sydney Kings’ basketball games (he is a former Chairman of the Kings).

David loves reading, music and spending time with his wife and four children.

Where do you like to holiday with the family?

We are a pretty adventurous family and love travel. We’ve always had the motto that if it’s a choice between a new lounge suite or a holiday we’ll always go the travel. It broadens the mind, exposes us to different cultures and immerses you in history. Our most memorable trips have been camping through Kakadu, summer holidays at Byron Bay, six months living in three little villages in Europe and Canada’s Yukon.

What do you look for in a holiday?

It’s a really tricky combination because it changes as the family changes. Libby and I have four kids aged between 16 and 25, so when they were young it was the traditional beach holiday. But then we’d try and add some educational elements … campervan around the Murrumbidgee Irrigation Area or explore the battlefields of the Western Front in France. Now it’s off-the-beaten-track destinations like Cambodia and Vietnam. We still travel as a family. Our rule is that working kids (and partners) pay their own airfare to the family holiday and Libby and I will pay the accommodation and meals. Some of the most memorable moments of our life we’ve done travelling as a family and we want to continue encouraging that.

Do you take the kids to places you went as a child?

You know, when they were younger we would take them to some flash places, like Disneyland (my parents lived in San Francisco for 10 years so we’d visit often). But their strongest memories are of the simple summer beach holidays we remember from our childhood. We forget that kids just want to do stuff with their parents when they are young and they want it simple … they want to be able to be kids.

What sorts of things do you like to do with the kids on holidays?

Basically just chill out and spend time with each other. Whether it’s at the beach or touring, our main priority is to experience things together.

Any tips on how to make a holiday with kids better?

Try and cater for their needs, kids’ clubs when they’re young and then adventure experiences when they’re older. It’s amazing what they retain when they “live” an event or an area. My youngest (Georgie who’s 16) was only nine when we visited the battlefields of the Western Front in France but it helped her so much when she did modern history years later and she could visualise the trenches and the geography.

Is there anywhere on your holiday wish list you haven’t been or would like to take the kids?

I’m lucky enough to have been able to climb Mt Kilimanjaro in Tanzania with my 22-year-old daughter then visit some game parks. It was the most amazing experience I’ve ever had … particularly being able to do it with Brie. The personal achievement of climbing Kili and then the animals … I’d never been to Africa before and it just blew me away. Now the rest of the family wants to do it (probably just the game parks and not Kili) so that’s our next big adventure. My personal dream is to cruise down the Nile on a felucca and Libby’s is to go to Antarctica, so we’ve slotted them in over the next couple of years.

We’ve also wanted to camp through the Kimberleys. Our list seems to keep growing!