Campervan pulled over by JOY
After more than two years and over 550 shows, JOY 94.9’s popular drive-time show, The Campervan, will finish up on February 19.
Campervan host Bridget Boson, who was the station’s one paid presenter, will not have her contract renewed, with a lack of funds given as the reason. She was told the news in late January after returning from six weeks annual leave.
“At the end of last year, the future looked pretty promising in terms of my role at JOY, so I had no reason to suspect that news,” Boson told Southern Star.
“While I understand the financial situation of the station, one of the things I was miffed about was that I wasn’t told before I went on leave, because I could’ve used that time really productively.”
The news follows the recent departure of G Spot hosts Gillian and Claire and of regular presenter Jenny O’ Keefe, leaving JOY without several of its most popular female voices.
“The gender parity has been a struggle since day one with JOY, so it’s unfortunate because a lot of the female audience were just starting to come around. They’re not particularly happy, and fair enough,” Boson said.
The station’s recently-appointed general manager Danae Gibson said in a statement, “I would like to thank Bridget Boson for her hard work, endurance and commitment to both the station and a professional level of broadcasting over this time.
“I look forward to hearing some more fine radio from The Campervan’s speakers over the journey that I expect to be emotional and entertaining.”
Gibson said the decision was made in order to protect the station’s sustainability.
“Any community broadcaster has limited resources to work with. JOY 94.9 is no different and we have to be prudent in our decision making,” she said.
Boson will be replaced by a rotating roster of presenters, a programming decision she said left her puzzled.
“I did offer to do the show for free for a while until they found someone else to take over as full-time drive host, but they said no,” she said.
For now, though, she’s focused on giving her listeners the best show possible until February 19.
“I feel so fortunate to have had an audience who’ve engaged with me and opened themselves up to me every day. That’s been incredibly rewarding,” Boson said.
“It’s been an incredibly intimate show, and I’m grateful for that, so I’ll be sad to say goodbye to it.”
I consider myself an intelligent woman, but for me this show was terrible. There were a few good interviews here and there – but most of the time the show was boring, and I found myself switching over. I did like the 80s specials. Well done to joy for making the tough decision.
Bridget has been a wonderful asset for JOY. The reason we have moved to all volunteer presenters is partly financial and partly philosophical. I personally believe, as a community broadcaster, volunteer presenters do a wonderful job and are the way to go.
The nonsense about JOY turning back into a male focused station is just that – nonsense. We have just appointed a great woman as our General Manager, a key strategic objective is to increase the participation of women and when we last did an audit 50% of voices on JOY were women. We want to do more and will continue to have the participation of women as a strategic objective.
We wish Bridget all the very best for the future and hope that she will have a presence at JOY as a volunteer. There are also a wide range of very professional volunteers who will continue the fabulous quality of radio that JOY offers.
Stephen Duns
President JOY 94.9
Bridge did a great job with drive time. She gives good interview too. I especially liked her interview with Jane Lynch an Ms Greer.
I love her irreverence and quick wit. Lost on those of slower intelligence methinks.
Im sure she will move onward and upward to better places whilst JOY sinks into a quag of amaturish male dominated hohum broadcasting. What a pity.
The Campervan is an excellent radio show, it’s a good example of independent and progressive radio. I liked Bridget on air as she messed with the boring Joy formula and injected intelligent personality into the show. She blended music with interview and humour – the show must have been popular as I remember listening during the radiothon in June and she got 120 people to join the station in one show! Finances aside you would think this is an indication of what the community actually want and so find a way to finance the position.
Maybe they shouldn’t have put on the new broadcast manager and diverted the wages to the existing staff.
I am sure Bridget will turn up on the ABC or another station
I sometimes liked listening to Bridget, but never when she was presenting alone. All she ever seemed to do was give the weather and stumble her way through the show. I’m surprised she lasted this long.
Yeah Joy seems to be turning back into a male focused station after a few promising starts and more established shows ending that were centred around women. Just one more reason why I’ll be listening to a more progressive radio station from now on.
Great issue guys – Well Done !
Didn’t know about Shelley D’Argent & the unions. Did you see her on Sunrise last week talking about Same sex marriage ? She did a good job.
Love the photos of pride march too
Keep up the good work !
Diane
Thank God! Bridget was AWFUL! Makes good commercial sense to replace her with a range of people, ensuring all views of the community are represented…not just Bridget’s self-centred ones.