The hardest goodbye

Today – Friday, December 6, 2024 – looms as a particularly poignant one for Elliott Lovejoy and Annabelle ‘A.B’ Brett.

After more than three years co-hosting Triple M’s The Rush Hour in Queensland, it’s their last day on-air together. The day they say goodbye.

It was weeks ago now that they learned from SCA that that they wouldn’t be returning in 2025, their show a casualty of networking.

A new mum, A.B was on maternity leave at the time.

To say they’ve been good sports would be an understatement.

This week, an email landed in the Radio Today inbox, marvelling at how, despite having their lives upended, A.B and Elliott have not only returned to the airwaves, but have continued to churn out fun content – still managing to see the funny the side of life, despite knowing they won’t be back next year.

As far as A.B is concerned, life’s too short. We have to make the most of it.

When asked how important it was to be able to say goodbye to listeners, A.B told Radio Today “I’m really bloody thankful to SCA for letting us have this chance for me to come back from mat leave to have one last hurrah with Elliott and Queensland.”

“It’s really easy to be bitter and angry about these things but absolutely never worth it. Enjoy the moment and relish in the goodbye, it’s the only way to go!”

In September this year, Laurel Edwards, Gary Clare and Mark Hine hosted their final Breakfast show on Brisbane’s 4BC, having been told the station was taking a new direction in that timeslot.

With heavy hearts, they reminisced with listeners about the 4KQ days, and the precious memories they built during a remarkable 3 decades on air together.

That morning, retiring talkback host Ray Hadley was a guest on the show. He told them they were a class act.

“May I congratulate all three on you on the most professional way in which you are handling your last shift,” he said. “It’s an example to everyone of class and dignity.”

As Laurel told Radio Today at the time, they weren’t unceremoniously shown the door. There was no ambush. No dramatic walkouts. No kicking, screaming or being frogmarched out of the building.

“They were lovely people to work with, and for. But at the end of the day, it comes down to ratings.”

Industry departures don’t always pan out this way.

When, after nearly 4 decades in the media industry, TV newsreader Sharyn Ghidella was told that her services were no longer required, she was philosophical about it, referring a quote from Ita Buttrose.

You haven’t worked in television unless you’ve been sacked.

I’ve heard the very same thing said about radio, many times over.

But, having lived through two radio redundancies myself, I can tell you from personal experience that when one door closes, another opportunity does present itself.

It might not be the kind you think it will be.

Sometimes you just have look extra hard for it.

Footnote: Queenslanders will be pleased to know that A.B will indeed be getting her damn hug from Elliott, with her change.org petition having surpassed its target of 500 signatures.