Guests have been phoning in and making live appearances on the final day of breakfast to be hosted by ABC Sydney’s Wendy Harmer and Robbie Buck. They have been on a long farewell tour since announcing their departure earlier this year.
Guests in the first half of the program included the managing director of the ABC David Anderson.
Alf Paranihi was live in the studio with traffic updates which was a nice touch. At 8am the #2 ranked Sydney radio broadcasters departed their regular Studio 222 for the final time.
Alf Paranihi live! (Photo James O’Brien)
After the 8am edition of AM, Wendy and Robbie moved into one of the ABC TV studios for the final 90 minutes in front of a studio audience.
Robbie introduced a highlights reel of four years with a comprehensive selection of clips that started with day one in 2018.
Singer, songwriter and author Josh Pyke performed before 9am.
During the final hour guests included fellow colleagues – ABC newsreader and presenter Toni Matthews and 10am host Cassie McCullagh. The latter will be taking over an extended morning show in 2022 that will run from 9am until 11am.
After the news that the former NSW premier Gladys Berejiklian won’t be running for a federal seat, Wendy said she was disappointed the prime minister hadn’t asked her to contest what is her electorate. “I can announce I won’t be considering it,” said Wendy.
Phil Scott then performed a song about the departing ABC broadcasters – thanks for the memories. He also welcomed “James Bloody Valentine, that Bloody Valentine.” The song also noted, “Alan Jones is gone, Wendy and Robbie’s work is done.”
The last ever Wendy and Robbie breakfast show ended with a lengthy list of people they thanked. Robbie included is family, who attended the broadcast, promising there would be no more grumpy dad on weeknights.
The final moments were given over to James Jeffrey who performed Auld Lang Syne on the bagpipes.
If you missed the morning of great radio you are able to listen on demand here.
ABC Radio also announced today listeners across Australia have donated more than $1.5 million to charities in the lead-up to Christmas.
State and Territory tallies to 9 December 2021 are:
New South Wales: $328,000 raised for Lifeline
Victoria: $334,600 raised for Foodbank
Western Australia: $417,500 raised for Anglicare
South Australia: $55,000 raised for Foodbank
Tasmania: $172,115 raised for The Giving Tree
Queensland: $126,000 raised for Meals on Wheels
ACT: $46,000 raised for Lifeline
Northern Territory: $51,000 raised for The Salvation Army
See also: How ABC’s regional and local head Judith Whelan and the team cover Australia