ABC Radio’s dynamic duo Craig Zonca and Loretta Ryan serve up breakfast with a splash of news
There is a 17-year age difference but that just adds to the on-air rapport of ABC Radio’s dynamic duo breakfast team of Craig Zonca and Loretta Ryan.
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BEING at the top of your game at the crack of dawn is no easy feat.
But that’s what hosting one of the state’s most popular breakfast shows entails.
That, and coffee, according to Craig Zonca and Loretta Ryan, the popular on-air Breakfast show team at ABC Radio Brisbane.
It is just part of the job to be able to do an in-depth, impromptu, on-air interview with anyone from the Premier on the latest economic statistics to a live broadcast on cattle prices from the top of an Ekka ride — all before 7.30am.
Another upside to the fast-paced job is that you don’t have to dress up for radio, a plus according to the bubbly Ryan.
She created fabulous mental images for listeners when she hosted the show one Melbourne Cup Day with her hair in rollers in preparation to look glam for a lunch date.
Ryan is a newer asset to the team, joining Zonca late last year to become Brisbane breakfast’s Dynamic Duo.
She plays the muse to Zonca’s straightman news hound.
The fresh-faced Zonca, 35, got his first taste of presenting in 2005 as the host of a gardening talkback show on ABC Capricornia live from the Rockhampton Botanic Gardens.
“Loretta is an absolute gem,’ he said.
“She is funny, kind, generous and knows everything there is to know about Brisbane.
“Loretta is the sort of person you want at every party and the friend everyone needs in their life.
“We love to have a laugh and poke fun at each other, but always with the idea that we’re giving the info our audience needs to start their day.”
But the real love of his life is Jessica Hinchliffe.
The pair will tie the knot in September at a special service on Jess’s parents’ property at Bouldercombe, west of Rockhampton, the town where Zonca grew up.
Zonca said along with coffee and lots of laughter, there were two tricks to surviving the early mornings — routine and discipline.
“I’m in bed by 8.30pm during the week and my 20 minute midafternoon power nap is critical to keeping me sane.
“Exercise also helps — a run, walk or workout pumps up the endorphins and keeps me firing through the afternoon.
“I’m also pretty conscious about what I eat and alcohol is a definite no-no on a school
night.”
His affection for Ryan is obvious with on-air comments often to do with her love of the Bee Gees or being a keen royal watcher.
“She spent far too many nights at Pacesetters at Albion and loves to sing along every time we play a song (sometimes when the mic is still open).
“If there were a Miss Nudgee Beach, Loretta certainly would’ve won the title.”
But Ryan is no pushover. She’s been working in radio for 36 years after starting fresh out of high school at Radio 10 in Brisbane.
She started in the schedules department, eventually working in production and became producer for Billy J Smith, who died this year.
Eventually I got myself a cadetship in the newsroom and that’s how I started on air,” she said.
“I was at Radio 10 (later Stereo 10) for seven-and-a-half years before moving to Triple M, where I presented news and also co-hosted the drive show called Blood Sweat and Beers.”
She stayed with Triple M for 16 years before moving to 4BH and 4BC where she worked for nine years on air, before landing at the ABC.
Ryan’s admiration for Zonca comes across in their on-air banter.
“We have a joke that Craig is an 80-year-old man in a 35-year-old man’s body,” she said.
“He’s very regimented and has his little routine every day.
“Loo break at 5.30am during the news. Muesli bar during the 6am news.
“He’s also full of energy at work and always bends over backwards to help others.
“He’s extremely conscientious and hard working and always has time for listeners and guests to the show.
“The best part, he likes a laugh. Who else would agree to dress up in a strawberry outfit in public?
“Oh yes, and he must have a wardrobe full of chequered shirts because he wears one just about every day.
“On his birthday recently, we all wore a check shirt for fun.”
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