For the love of the game: Elliott Lovejoy’s happy place

It would be hard to imagine a more idyllic place to grow up than Thursday Island.

Elliott Lovejoy describes it as the most beautiful place in the world, and it’s not hard to understand why.

Elliott was born in Tamworth but spent most of his childhood up north in the Torres Strait Islands.

He remembers blissful days of barefoot adventures, footy games and fishing every single afternoon.

Today – as co-host of Triple M’s Rush Hour in North Queensland – Elliott is finding some old habits die hard.

He tells Radio Today “I don’t think I wore shoes ’til I was about 14.”

“It’s a habit that occasionally still pops up at work, much to the dismay of our resident tech/shoe police at Triple M.”

To say Elliott lived and breathed footy from an early age would be an understatement.

“I grew up on rugby league,” he says. “Playing it, watching every single game I could and waiting in anticipation for the yearly visit we would get to the islands from Broncos and Cowboys players.”

Working in the media is very much a family affair.

Elliott’s grandfather – the late, great George Lovejoy – was the voice of what we now know as the NRL, calling games with Brisbane’s 4BH for decades and coining the famous phrase ‘The Greatest Game of All.’

Affectionately known as ‘Mr Football,’ George was a household name in Queensland.

Elliott says his Pa helped instil in him a love of the game.

“He was an incredibly passionate broadcaster and human being and his plaque lives at the Suncorp Stadium Hall of Fame now.”

Elliott’s mum Melissa Lovejoy was a radio producer for 4BC on the Greg Cary Show during the 90s.

And his dad Neil Warren is currently Director of News for Channel 7 in Sydney.

Elliott’s pride shines through when talking about his mum, dad and Pa.

“I look up to the three of them and what they have all achieved and I suppose I hope to put at least half the dent they have in the broadcasting world by the time I’m done,” he says.

Getting his start at an Indigenous community station in Cairns, Elliott’s passion for radio was evident very early on.

Keen to forge a career, he sent out more than 500 demo tapes in the space of a year.

But his future could have taken a very different turn.

Accepted into the Queensland Police Service in 2012, Elliott suddenly found himself at a crossroads.

“The same day, I got a call from Hill FM in Broken Hill with an offer of the Breakfast role,” Elliott remembers.

He packed up his ute and started on air 10 days later.

Elliott’s radio journey would take him overseas, with hosting roles in Canada and the United Arab Emirates, before he settled back in Australia in 2018, as host of Triple M’s Breakfast show in Cairns.

Today – with his Rush Hour co-host Annabelle Brett (pictured above with Elliott) and Executive Producer Luke Lum – Elliott continues to immerse himself in the sport he loves with colleagues who bring out the best in him.

“I think AB and I couldn’t be more different human beings if we tried, and that’s probably why it works.”

“I am a grumpy 60 year old man in a 32 year old’s body and she is the queen of positivity.”

“Her work ethic and striving to be great is something I admire a lot and the last 18 months have been a joy,” Elliott says.

“A couple of years ago I started doing sidelines for the Triple M NRL Call Team as well.”

“As you can imagine, with my grandpa’s past, I bloody love it.”

Elliott says there have been countless mentors over the journey – far too many to list them all.

“A few in recent years though that stand out are Blair Woodcock, our head of Regional.”

“Blair is a calm head who I can go to at any time of day for guidance. I don’t often say nice things to his face so he will enjoy reading this.”

“Rex Morris of Triple M Sydney has been a huge help the past 4-5 years as well and I believe he gets the best out of me.”

“Mat Eggleston has always been a wonderful sounding board, too.”

“In terms of the footy stuff, I’ve been blown away by what a supportive environment that has been. Blokes like Charlie White, Gorden Tallis, Ben Dobbin, Anthony Maroon, Wendell Sailor and Matty O’Reilly have always made time to help me develop in that space and it’s not something I’ll soon forget.”

As to where he sees radio heading in the future, Elliott says “I’m 0 for 7 on my NFL tips for the week so I don’t think I’ll take a stab at predicting real life stuff as I’ll be way off the mark.”

“I know it is constantly developing and changing but so are we.”

“I think the medium is in a good place moving forward.”

*Photos supplied.