Terry Hansen: How radio helped us through a pandemic

Living through a pandemic doesn’t come with an instruction manual.

Covid changed our lives in a way none of us saw coming, and Terry Hansen was no exception.

As the world went pear-shaped, Terry –  the funny guy and self-proclaimed daggy dad of Brisbane’s Robin, Terry & Kip breakfast show on KIIS 97.3FM – ploughed on.

But the separation from loved ones hit hard.

He tells Radio Today “Like many Queenslanders, I was isolated from my children, who are young adults studying in Melbourne.”

“It’s hard to be 2000km away, knowing that they were navigating not just the lockdowns and isolation, but the delay and loss of opportunities.”

When it comes to looking after our mental health and looking out for others, Terry believes radio has a powerful role to play.

“Radio is the most intimate form of conversation because it joins you in your home, in your car and in your life each day.”

On days when life throws us challenges that seem insurmountable, Terry says that sort of connection can make all the difference.

“As radio announcers, we aim to speak as we would to an individual friend every time we open the microphone.”

It’s about making each and every listener know they are part of a shared experience.

“We must be open to share in our frustrations but also point to the joy that is available around all of us.”

Terry says creating the Take-Away-A-Day initiative let people know how they could support struggling Brisbane businesses during lockdown.

“I remember going to hotels and cafes and asking if we could promote them and seeing the appreciation and relief of bosses/owners with the staff they could retain. Hearing that someone would make the effort to reach out to them at a time when they were struggling to keep their business alive – AND OUR LISTENERS RESPONDED.”

During Melbourne’s gruelling stretch of lockdowns, Jason ‘Jase’ Hawkins from KIIS 101.1’s Jase and Lauren in the Morning let others know they weren’t alone when he opened up about his own decision to take a day off, after the pressure of work and family life began to take their toll.

Jase was keen to break the stigma around taking what we know as mental health days.

“I am definitely not the sort of person who would normally do that. I think I’ve just grown up with that old-school family environment where you just suck it up and get on with stuff. But I was driving home one day and I was like ‘I am just DONE.”

“I was going to fire off a text (to colleagues) saying ‘Hey guys. Not feeling well.’ Then I was like, no. I’m just going to own it and go ‘Hey guys. Mentally not right. I’ll be OK. One day’s not going to fix it. Just 24 hours to hit the reset button.”

“It took me an hour to hit ‘send.’”

Terry is a big believer that success shouldn’t be measured by the size of our house or the size of our wallets.

“Working with groups such as DADBODS and Men’s Walk and Talk, I always strive to make men realise that the greatest success of our lives might not be our careers, but being a loving father and husband.”

Terry says being present for family and friends makes us realise how valued we are.

“Tragically, we see and hear daily the results of men, women and children who lose their sense of worth to the world around them.”

“As media increasingly tailors itself to an isolated, individual and insular experience, only radio has the power to be present as friends and family.”

Terry believes radio needs to be a sounding board as much as a source of information and entertainment.

“Radio is a heartfelt, hilarious, feisty, infuriating conversation.”

“We have never left the conversation. And it has never been more important.”