Paradise FM celebrated a quarter-century of community broadcasting yesterday, marking 25 years on air while confirming the departure one of the people most responsible for its success.

Long-serving station manager Jenny Ellenbroek used the station’s anniversary broadcast to reveal she will retire at the end of this month after helping guide Paradise FM from its earliest days.

The milestone brought together three of the station’s stalwarts — breakfast host Warwick Manning, who holds the record as one of Australia’s longest-serving professional broadcasters, founding manager Ms Ellenbroek and popular Friday Drive presenter Sandra Jackson.

Reflecting on the journey from the station’s modest beginnings to its current home on Cherry Street, Ms Ellenbroek said the support of volunteers and the community had sustained Paradise FM through good times and bad.

“We’ve been through some times over the 25 years,” she said.

The station first went to air on June 18, 2001, and has since become a familiar voice across Ballina Shire, providing local information, “the best music  of all time”, emergency updates and support for community organisations.

Ms Ellenbroek said one of the station’s greatest strengths had always been its volunteers.

“It’s just amazing to think that this place is run with the support of so many volunteers, and what they achieve, and what they do, and what they learn, and what they love about Paradise FM,” she said.

“There’s a lot of people here who’ve been here for many, many years, sometimes on and off, but still, it’s just a wonderful team, part of the Paradise family, as we like to call it.”

Through floods, Covid and technical crises

The anniversary comes just months after Paradise FM faced one of the most challenging periods in its history, battling significant technical failures that disrupted broadcasting and forced a major community fundraising effort.

Ms Ellenbroek said the station had repeatedly overcome adversity throughout its 25-year history.

“We’ve had our ups and downs, and it was tough during the floods and Covid and other economic downturns and various other things, but somehow, because of our passion, because of our love for the place, we’ve risen above on all occasions,” she said.

She also thanked listeners and supporters who recently contributed to an ongoing fundraising campaign that helped refurbish the station’s studios and replace ageing equipment.

“It’s just extraordinary. People from all areas of the community got behind Paradise FM,” she said.

Among the highlights of the past 25 years, Ms Ellenbroek pointed to the station’s Anzac Day broadcasts, particularly its innovative Covid-era commemorations that allowed residents to participate from their driveways when public services were cancelled.

The station later received an Australia Day award for the initiative.

Looking to the next 25 years

While announcing her retirement, Ms Ellenbroek said it was important for new people to bring fresh ideas to the station.

“Paradise FM needs to go on for another 25 years,” she said.

“You need new eyes and new ideas and fresh things to do and all sorts of things to continue to make it as relevant to our community as it always has been, while retaining our heritage.”

Mr Manning acknowledged the contribution of Ms Ellenbroek and fellow pioneer Sandra Jackson, noting the pair had remained involved since the station’s earliest days.

Ms Jackson continues to host Friday Drive while juggling a full-time job at Ballina Shire Council.

As Paradise FM celebrates its silver anniversary, Ms Ellenbroek said she remained optimistic about the station’s future but encouraged more locals to become involved.

“We desperately need some more volunteers at the moment,” she said.

“I’ve always loved it, and I always will, and I wish the radio station enormous success going forward.”

Interested in being part of the Paradise family?  Email: Manager@ParadiseFM.org.au

Main Photo: Paradise FM manager Jenny Ellenbroek (seated) with fellow members of the original team, Sandra Jackson and Warwick Manning.