612 ABC Brisbane

612 ABC Brisbane (callsign: 4QR) is an ABC Local Radio station in Brisbane, Queensland. It is one of the largest stations in the network, serving as a base for Queensland programming - many programs are broadcast across the ABC Local Radio network in regional and rural areas of Queensland when those stations are not carrying local programming.

The 2012 on-air team includes Spencer Howson, Steve Austin, Kelly Higgins-Devine, Tim Cox and Rebecca Levingston. Past presenters have included Richard Fidler, Madonna King, Peter Dick, Rod Henshaw, Andrew Carroll and Susan Mitchell.

History

612 ABC Brisbane studios in South Bank

Radio broadcasting began in Brisbane in 1925 when the Government of Queensland commenced its own broadcasting operations with the callsign 4QG - 4 denoted the state of Queensland; QG stood for Queensland Government. 4QG became a part of the ABC's radio network at its inception in 1932.

The ABC started a second Brisbane station on 7 January 1938 using the callsign 4QR - the new station carried national programming while 4QG aired mainly local content. 4QG is now part of the ABC's Radio National network - as such it now has the callsign 4RN, in common with all other Radio National services in Queensland.

Until December 2006, 612 ABC Brisbane's studios were located on Coronation Drive in the Brisbane inner-city suburb of Toowong (a location severely damaged by water in the 1974 Brisbane floods).

A number of breast cancer cases at the ABC's Toowong studios led to the permanent evacuation of the entire site in December, 2006. 350 staff, from ABC television, radio and online, were relocated. The station broadcast from the ABC's Gold Coast studios during the relocation period.

In September 2006, 612 ABC Brisbane was "host radio broadcaster" for naturalist Steve Irwin's memorial service at Australia Zoo, Beerwah. Breakfast announcers Spencer Howson (from 612 ABC Brisbane) and John Stokes (from the ABC's Sunshine Coast station Coast FM) were chosen to host the broadcast, made available to radio stations around the world.

Programs

All programs are produced for a local or statewide audience unless marked National. All times are in Australian Eastern Standard time (UTC+10). Queensland does not observe daylight saving.

Mondays to Fridays

• 5.00am - 8.00am Breakfast, Spencer Howson
• 7.45am - 8.30am News & AM with Tony Eastley - National
• 8.30am - 11.00am Mornings, Steve Austin
• 11.00am - 12.00pm The Conversation Hour, Richard Fidler- Heard across QLD and NSW
• 12.00pm - 1.00pm The World Today, Eleanor Hall - National
• 1.00pm - 3.00pm Afternoons, Kelly Higgins-Devine
• 3.00pm - 6.00pm Drive, Tim Cox
• 6.00pm - 7.00pm PM, Mark Colvin - National
• 7.00pm - 10.00pm Evenings, Rebecca Levingstone - Statewide except Fridays
• 10.00pm - 2.00am Nightlife, Tony Delroy - National
• 2.00am - 5.00am Overnights, Trevor Chappell (Monday - Thursday) and Rod Quinn (Friday - Sunday) - National

Saturdays

• 5.00am - 6.00am Fish Talk, Jason Hagen
• 6.00am - 8.00am Saturday Breakfast, Phil Smith
• 8.00am - 8.30am Saturday AM, Elizabeth Jackson - National
• 8.30am - 9.00am Saturday Breakfast continues
• 9.00am - 12.00pm Weekends, Warren Boland
• 12.00pm - 2.00pm Grandstand Active, Simone Thurtell - National
• 2.00pm - 5.00pm Grandstand, Simone Thurtell - National
• 5.00pm - 10.00pm Grandstand Rugby League
• 10.00pm - 2.00am Saturday Night Country, Felicity Urquhart - National
• 2.00am - 5.00am Overnights, Rod Quinn - National

Sundays

• 5.30am - 10.00am Australia All Over, Ian McNamara - National
• 10.00am - 12.00pm Weekends, Warren Boland
• 12:00pm - 6.30pm Grandstand Rugby League, David Morrow
• 6.30pm - 9.00pm Sundays, James O'Loghlin - National
• 9.00pm - 9.30pm Sunday Profile, Richard Aedy - National
• 9.30pm - 10.00pm Speaking Out, Rhianna Patrick - National
• 10.00pm - 2.00am Sunday Nights, John Cleary - National
• 2.00am - 5.30am Overnights, Rod Quinn - National

Mornings

The Mornings show currently runs from 8:30am until 11:00am with the first 30 minutes devoted to the main news stories of the day. Prime ministers, premiers and other politicians will lobby to be interviewed in this first half hour.

After 9:00am talkback callers are encouraged to contribute to the day's debate.

However, Mornings has proved almost as controversial as the stories normally covered on the local current affairs show. Several people have presented the show over the years with their departure often making headlines.

Recent presenters have been Madonna King (2006-11), Steve Austin (2004-5), Kirsten Macgregor (2003), Susan Mitchell (2002), Andrew Carroll (2000-1), Cathy Border (2000), John Barton, Carolyn Tucker (1999), Anna Reynolds and Rod Henshaw.

In 2002, the ABC was forced to apologise to Andrew Carroll and admit he was unfairly sacked (See Media Release). Carroll was taken off-air after commenting, during an interview with Queensland Premier Peter Beattie, that he would have to "reconsider the terms of his contract" (or similar). Carroll's story was featured on the ABC's own media watchdog program Media Watch.

In October 2011, King announced that she would be leaving the station to spend more time with her children. In December 2011, Steve Austin was announced as King's replacement.

References

External links

• 612 ABC Brisbane online
• A history of ABC radio in Brisbane