Alex and wife Bonnie have their hands full with Max, Evie and Audrey
It would be difficult to find someone who doesn’t adore Alex Cullen, today’s new golden boy. The easygoing father of three, who is only 41 years old, is quickly rising to the top of the Nine Network’s list of desired on-air talent. With his star rising, Alex acknowledges that he wouldn’t be who he is today without one very particular person: Bonnie Campbell, his wife of five years. “She works extremely hard to care for our small family; I definitely got the better end of the deal.” Alex communicates with New Idea from their west-inner Sydney house. We had had three children under the age of three, so there was a lot going on. Bonnie is a unique individual.
Kidding around
Although identical twins Evie and Audrey turned three earlier this year, attention has been focused on their younger brother Max, who recently celebrated his first birthday.
“Max has been a dream child since the time he opened his eyes; he is completely at ease and hardly ever cries.
Alex explains with his signature cheeky grin, “But he’s no pushover and is bound to grow up strong, as… his demanding elder sisters beat him around a fair deal.
Fond memories
For Alex, the oldest of four siblings, his family has always come first. When Tom, his father and the family’s rock, passed away from brain cancer in 2018, his entire world fell apart.
“Dad was that guy who endured years of drought without complaining and always made sure Mum [Anne], my siblings, and I were alright. Alex replies while fighting back tears, “I miss him so much and think of him every day.
Little Max’s middle name is the same as that of his grandfather. Alex says: “I regularly tell them stories about their grandpa and the sort of person he was,” despite the fact that Max, Evie, and Audrey never had the chance to meet the family patriarch.
Boy from the bush
Alex began his schooling at the neighbourhood school where his mother worked while being raised on a farm in Coonamble, New South Wales. After that, he travelled to Sydney to enrol at Saint Ignatius College Riverview for boarding education.
“The family property has been maintained by Mum, who is very resilient, and my brother, Tom.
“We take the kids out there whenever we can, and they simply like it — the big open spaces, the breathtaking sunrises and sunsets, and the animals. What youngster wouldn’t adore that?
Alex brought his girls “out on the header” during harvest last year. Alex suddenly found himself filled with emotion as he remembered his father, who was usually an important part of the harvest.”The twins hugged me. It seems like they were aware of their father’s pain.
Dream team
It’s his “second family” at Today that has Alex feeling like he’s finally at home after a career that has seen him rise from a young provincial reporter to the stratospheric heights of ground-breaking investigative journalism with Seven’s Sunday Night.
“There are never any boring moments. Brooke Boney has the sharpest wit of anyone I know, Karl Stefanovic is hilarious beyond belief, Ally Langdon is a model citizen, and “Dickie” Richard Wilkins is a good man with a big heart.
“And as for Tim [Davies], he’s such a fantastic fella and everyone just gets caught in those eyes!
Breakfast Battle
Although we are aware that Seven’s Sunrise has a well-oiled team, we are already demonstrating that we are up for the job.
And let’s not forget that as a patient Parramatta Eels (NRL) fan who has been waiting since 1986 for another premiership, I’m accustomed to playing the long game!
“For now, the only thing that matters is if I can be the best father I can be, just like our father was to us,” the speaker said.
