A little over 10 years ago, Chance Hanlon and his daughter Bec Tucker were helping out former commercial radio personalities Barry McCaffrey and Graham French with some voiceover work and sponsorship when Barry and Graham moved to join community station Triple U FM in the beautiful NSW Shoalhaven after retiring.

That ‘chance’ encounter ended up with the father daughter duo launching their own breakfast
show. Their vision was simple — to focus on the local stories and issues that commercial radio often overlooked and be a platform for community groups, local politics, events, and the people of the Shoalhaven.

Both maintained full-time careers, growing their passion for community radio in their spare time. Chance owned a window manufacturing business, retiring 12 months ago. After initially broadcasting from the Triple U FM studios in Nowra, the pair ended up building a purpose-built digital studio at their Bomaderry workplace (see above).

Three years in, they expanded further by building a fully equipped broadcast van (above), allowing them to take their breakfast show to the Shoalhaven several times each year. Those live broadcasts became especially important during the 2019–2020 Black Summer bushfires when they reported directly from Emergency fire control centre to keep the community informed.

Chance and Bec were recognised by the local council for their role during that period. Chance was also awarded Australia Day 2024 Citizen of the year for his volunteer work with Triple U.

Chance and Bec have gone on to host tourism awards, business chamber events and fundraisers for organisations like the Cancer Council Australia. Their contribution through community radio has had a significant and lasting impact across the Shoalhaven region.

To mark the decade milestone, Chance and Bec’s breakfast show will be on the road, celebrating with community in the month of June.

Triple U in the Shoalhaven is also celebrating 40 years on air this year.