F.Y.I.

Laurel Edwards, Gary Clare and Mark Hine sign off from 4KQ Breakfast

Laurel Edwards, Gary Clare and Mark Hine have hosted 4KQ’s breakfast show for the last time on Friday, as ARN sold the station to comply with Australia’s media ownership laws.

The announcement:

Today marks the end of an incredible chapter in the history of radio as Laurel Edwards, Gary Clare and Mark Hine host 4KQ’s popular breakfast show for the very last time. Their final show comes a week out from the classic hits station turning off the mics next Thursday, June 30. This follows the sale of the station, a result of ARN’s acquisition of a regional network and need to comply with Australia’s media ownership laws.

Laurel, Gary and Mark are Brisbane’s longest continual running breakfast show, having entertained listeners on-air together for 16 years. Laurel joined 4KQ in 1992 and recently celebrated her 30th anniversary, making her the longest-serving female radio announcer on the same program. Gary has had two stints at 4KQ totalling 31 years. He started in the mid-80s before returning in the mid-90s, first as a Breakfast producer and then on-air. And Mark, one of 4KQ’s most loved personalities, has anchored the Breakfast show now for the past 16 years.

Of their final day on air, Laurel Edwards said: “This has been my life for 30 years and while today is very emotional, I am so grateful for all the memories I am leaving with. Today is a celebration of the success we have achieved, and all the people who have helped along the way.”

Gary Clare added: “Part of our success is how close-knit we are as a team, but we must also acknowledge our listeners. We have been inundated with so many moving calls these past few weeks and would like to thank our loyal and passionate fans who have been waking up with us for so many years.”

Mark Hine said: “We say goodbye with mixed emotions. There are so many people we work with every day that we will miss, yet I am so proud of everything we have achieved and am looking forward to what is to come. I’m feeling really positive about the future.”

4KQ will remain on air for another week, officially switching off on Thursday June 30 at midnight. The classic hits station was launched on May 7, 1947, as a Rock n Roll station, but by the 90s was winning over listeners and ratings with its classic hits music format. After 75 years of broadcasting, the station’s final hours on air will celebrate this classic music and feature some familiar voices of the many announcers across the night.

ARN’s chief content officer Duncan Campbell said: “This truly is the end of an incredible era in radio history and, like 4KQ’s legion of loyal listeners, we are sad to be farewelling this iconic Brisbane station. I would like to thank Laurel, Gary and Mark and the entire team at 4KQ who helped make the station such a success story.”

Source: ARN

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