Second year as finalists for Spirit pair

Karratha Spirit Radio 1260 announcers Pablo Newton Farley and Angie Ayers have rubbed shoulders with some of the best and brightest Australian broadcasters on the red carpet at the 27th annual Australian Commercial Radio awards this month.

The pair has returned from the ACRA’s as finalists for a second consecutive year.

Organised by Commercial Radio Australia on behalf of the radio industry, the national awards cover 33 categories which recognise radio’s brightest stars from around the country.

This year entries were received from 260 metropolitan and regional radio stations, with more than 1000 people attending the gala black tie event at Gold Coast Convention and Entertainment Centre.

Ms Ayers said she was honoured to be representing Karratha on the big stage as a finalist for the Best Direct Salesperson award.

“It’s quite an overpowering feeling to hear your name called out as a finalist in a room full of your industry peers, big names in the biz and you right there sitting alongside of them,” she said.

“Thanks to all my clients and the small businesses in Karratha because without you all, I would never have made it as a finalist in the first place.

“You really make my job easy and one I thoroughly enjoy.”

Mr Newton Farley said it was humbling to be recognised alongside the likes of commercial radio legends like Fitzy and Wippa and Kyle and Jacquie O in the Best Station Produced Comedy Segment.

“It was inspiring to be in the same room as the best minds in radio around Australia,” he said.

“Radio is a great industry to be involved in and I don't take it for granted.

“Love what you do and you'll never work a day in your life. I really believe that, it's a privilege waking up each day to talk to our listeners from around the Pilbara.”

The ACRAs followed the National Radio Conference, which was held at Jupiters on the Gold Coast on October 9.

Radio veteran and award winning journalist Jeremy Cordeaux was inducted into the Commercial Radio Hall of Fame.

Former Karratha radio presenter Brendon Jones was awarded an ACRA for his FM101.7 Sydney breakfast show with Amanda Keller.

The Kyle and Jackie O Show, KIIS won the Best On-Air Team in the Metro FM category for the fifth time.

A full list of winners is available at www.commercialradio.com.au .