Phebe Leaves: No Falling Out

Illawarra Mercury

Monday November 3, 2008

By MICHELE TYDD

MULTI award-winning radio announcer Phebe Irwin has resigned from WAVE 96.5FM just over a year after she was axed from the coveted breakfast slot.

Management, however, believes Irwin's departure has nothing to do with that decision.

"I think she is just advancing her career," station manager Tony Williams said.

Irwin is saying little about the new job she will take up next month at a Queensland radio station.

"They have made several approaches and all I can say is that the timing is right," she said.

Irwin, 42, arrived in the Illawarra in 1996 for a holiday and stayed 12 years.

Her lack of pretension and sharp wit won her quick support.

She soon moved over to i98FM for four years and returned to WAVE's breakfast slot four years later.

Irwin spent most of the next eight years teamed with announcer Dave Gorr until last year, when she was sidelined to the 9pm-12 pm segment.

During her time in the Illawarra, Irwin took out a swag of Australian commercial radio awards and nominations.

She said one of the things she had to clear up before leaving was to dispel two persistent rumours: that the decision last year was to do with a falling out with Dave Gorr and that she was resigning due to ill health.

"Nothing happened between Dave and I ... we are still firm friends. We had to get up at functions to dismiss that rumour and to tell people it was purely a management decision," she said.

"And there is nothing wrong with my health. I've had a few medical scares in recent years but I am fine," she said.

While she is looking forward to a fresh start, Irwin said leaving the Illawarra was one of the hardest decisions she has ever made.

"I've been spoilt rotten here," she said.

"I've been adopted by a couple of families, including the Granato family from Fairy Meadow who I have shared nearly every Christmas with since arriving," Irwin said.

"And I'll miss being treated like everybody's friend ... only recently I went to the RTA to get my licence renewed and the lady who took my photo said 'Oh Phebes that's a shocker, we can do better'."

Irwin said she would always be grateful for the treatment people extended from the man and woman in the street to celebrities.

"One celebrity perk I enjoyed was having famous people record my answering machine who included Darryl Braithwaite, JD Fortune from INXS and author Jackie Collins."

Mr Williams said the station was sad to see Irwin go.

"She has been a great asset but we must let people advance their careers," he said.

Dave Stretton will replace Irwin, he said.

© 2008 Illawarra Mercury

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