Thu 30 Jan 2025 to Sat 1 Feb 2025

Sunglasses After Dark's Phil MacDougall cuts the celebration cake at PBS's 45th birthday Photo credit: Mauro Trentin @mauro_images
Last December, PBS celebrated its 45th birthday at the Quad Club. Here PBS living legend and Sunglasses After Dark host, Phil MacDougall had the honour of cutting the celebration cake and saying a few words along with our Station Manager Kristen Paterson. 
Photo credit: Mauro Trentin @mauro_images

A heartfelt thanks to volunteers Celia, Joni, Catherine, Lee Anne, Ian, Vader, Jill, Rodney, Mauro, 22 PBS DJs and everyone else for making it a special celebration.

 

We're Back in the Office

A big thank you to all the volunteers who kept PBS on air over the summer break! We’re so grateful to our regular broadcasters and the new voices we heard over the past months. It’s always exciting to hear fresh ideas and different perspectives on our programs.

 

Front desk volunteer answers the phones
Tom Williams is 1 of 17 volunteers taking care of front desk business at PBS
Photo credit: PBS staffer

 

Welcome Back, Front Desk Team

Thank you to everyone who responded to our front desk EOIs. We've trained some fantastic new team members and are thrilled to welcome back our full Reception team.

 

Applications Open for the 2025 Announcer Course

Are you interested in becoming a PBS announcer? Applications for the 2025 Announcer Course are now open—don’t miss out! Check out this link for more information.

 

Susi Lanagan with Tift Merritt at the Easey Street Studios 2015
Susi Lanagan with Tift Merritt at the Easey Street Studios September 3, 2015
Photo credit: PBS staffer

Farewell, Susi Lanagan

On February 6, Susi Lanagan will broadcast her final program, marking an incredible 20 years of What The Folk. We will deeply miss her, but we’re so grateful for the two decades of music she has shared with our community. We’ll miss Susi and can’t thank her enough for her 20 years of warmth, musical passion, and love for our community. As she embarks on new adventures and travels, we wish her the best and know she’ll brighten wherever she goes. 

 

Claire Dickson on her first Breakfast Spread - Monday January 20, 2025
Photo credit: Kurt Eckardt

 

The Breakfast Spread in 2025

In case you missed it, The Breakfast Spread has some changes this year. Every Monday and Tuesday we welcome Claire Dickson as host while Milo continues to program and present Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays. Claire has hosted her own shows Good Company and Circling the Sun on PBS previously, and is also familiar to brekkie listeners as a previous co-host of The Breakfast Spread with Milo back in 2018.  As part of this transition, we also bid farewell to Annika Priest, host of State of the Art, who shared her arts segment on Wednesdays for an incredible 7 years. Thank you, Annika!

 

Paul Kelly and Annika Priest 2019
Paul Kelly with Annika Priest in 2019
Photo credit: Aleisha Hall

 

Ian Stanistreet and PBS Volunteer Jane Brownrigg c1985
Ian Stanistreet and PBS Volunteer Jane Brownrigg circa 1985
Photo credit: unknown
 

Congratulations Ian Stanistreet OAM

Ian Stanistreet began his community radio journey at PBS in 1980 as a volunteer broadcaster. He later became the station’s first manager, serving from 1982 to 1988. During his tenure, Ian played a pivotal role in shaping the station’s operations. He recruited sponsors, subscribers (now known as members), volunteers and staff, key to securing transmission facilities via Public FM, and oversaw the station’s relocation from the POW to Fitzroy Street. His contributions didn’t stop there—he achieved so much more! While PBS is just one chapter in Ian’s remarkable radio story, his impact on our station and the sector is immense. A profound thanks and congratulations to Ian Stanistreet OAM for his service to broadcast media. 

 

Volunteer at Drive Live 2025

This year, Drive Live (live bands / live broadcast) returns as an all-ages event, and we’re looking for volunteers to help roll out the event to the community. Volunteer roles include:

Door Assistants
Refreshments Assistants
Bussers + Bins
Merch Assistants
Bump Out - Friday only

Please Note: All event volunteers working directly with minors must hold a current Victorian Working with Children’s Check (free for volunteers).

For registered PBS volunteers: To help at Drive Live 2025, read the position description and email with your preferred role, availability, and relevant experience.

New volunteers interested in Drive Live or other upcoming volunteer roles can email to learn more.