Laurel Edwards, host of the Laurel, Gary & Mark show on Brisbane’s 4KQ, celebrated her 25th anniversary on-air.
Starting her career at 4KQ on May 18, 1992, Laurel has held the same role in the leading breakfast slot this entire time.
To mark the momentous occasion, a special segment was broadcast on this morning’s show including highlights of Laurel’s time with 4KQ, along with interviews with her husband, country musician Troy Cassar-Daly, their children Clay and Jem, and Mark Spurway, the original program director who employed Laurel back in 1992.
Keith Urban also shared a special video message for Laurel.
Rounding out the celebrations, the 4KQ studio was filled with gold balloons and the entire 4KQ team gathered around as Laurel was presented with a surprise cake from her favourite bakery, Flour and Chocolate.
Of the achievement, Laurel says: “I’m extremely proud to be celebrating this milestone with colleagues and listeners who have come to be my second family. Ultimately what has kept me getting out of bed at 4am for 25 years is the fact that Gary, Mark and I have fun together every single day and we play the best music, especially my favourite songs from the 70s!
“I am so grateful for the loyalty of our audience, and have endless fond memories including hugs on the street from listeners who feel like we’re family from tuning into the show every day. I’ve been making birthday calls to some listeners since they were five years old. Only the other day a very tall, 30 plus hipster told me I’ve announced his birthday every year since he was a boy and he still listens as he loves the music. When I had Clay (18 years ago) lovely listeners gave me beautiful hand-knitted booties and bunny rugs. It’s humbling to feel I’ve been a part of their lives.
“Another thing I’m really proud of is how 4KQ is going so strong and is still very relevant. We remain Brisbane’s Heritage radio station and more passionate listeners you will not find. A very credible US radio consultant calls us ’the most successful AM music station in the world’ and that feels pretty good. In this new high tech world there are so many more options for the listener but thanks to Digital Radio you can now hear us in crystal clear quality all around the world on the iHeartRadio app. My family know not to touch the radio on a Sizzling 70s Weekend!”
Laurel cites some of her favourite interview subjects over the years as people she idolised when she was younger, including Daryl Braithwaite (who made a surprise appearance at her 50th Birthday Party last year), Jimmy Barnes, Carol Lloyd, Bob Geldoff, John Farnham, Tom Jones and Rod Stewart.
“I consider this my dream job and I’m looking forward to the next 25 years here at 4KQ… although I may ask the boss if the brekky shift can now start at 7am!”
ARN’s National Content Director Duncan Campbell congratulated Laurel on the celebration, saying: “We are honoured to have spent the past 25 years with Laurel, she’s an integral part of the 4KQ team. During this time she has earned respect from everyone who works alongside her, and also from Brisbane listeners who love her as one of their own, and look forward to the unwavering wit, wisdom and laughter she brings each morning.”
A dedicated page on the 4KQ website has been set up to commemorate Laurel’s anniversary, including an interview discussing the highlights of her time with the station and photographs and television commercials from the early years.
Laurel and husband Troy Cassar-Daly