I first joined the MainFM Community earlier this year when I moved to the area. Community radio has been one of my longest loves and I really believe in investing in it. It was a necessity for me to sign up to the local station, and I was only gonna subscribe but then I saw the presenter training and went for it. I didn’t intend to present, thinking there would be other roles in production, and found out presenters do it all so here I am now!
In February I moved from the Dandenong Ranges to Castlemaine with my partner James and our sweet angel cat Nisse. I was lucky to land work locally – I’m a social worker by trade and I’m at uni doing a Masters in Clinical Family Therapy. I also work seasonally with Meredith Music Festival/Golden Plains co-managing the Welfare team with one of my besties, and this is a dreamy and steady part of my relationship to music. In my spare time I like to space out in nature, spend time with loved ones and am now finding curating a radio show is taking a big chunk of my time but I am absolutely loving it.
I host Strong Currents, 10pm til midnight on Wednesdays. Strong Currents is a sonic riverwalk of vibe driven curation, following the eclectic ebbs and flows of music that is filling up my cup, and is inspired by what is happening inside and outside of me. I aim to highlight First Nations music and women and gender diverse artists as a part of every show. I started the show in June, so it’s pretty damn fresh. I was primarily motivated to do the show as a way to dive back in to music. Music has been a real interest of mine since I was a teenager when I was buying Rolling Stone and going to as many gigs as I could. Convenience in the age of streaming services has really gotten in the way of my own meaningful engagement with music, so I’m back in it and my bank account knows it ha!
Its only been a short time, but I’ve realised I have a lot of integrity in how I’m doing the show. That may change ha! but for now, my focus is on valuing the music, the artists, and paying credit where credit is due. I’ve learnt the MainFM community is bloody incredible. I had my suspicions, and they just keep on getting affirmed when I meet anyone at the station and each time I listen to a show.
I admire so many other presenter’s shows. The Wave is a favourite, just how expressed and hilarious, eclectic, warm and friendly Lifon comes across, he is a joy on a Saturday evening. Deep House Chewton because who doesn’t love a bitta Deep House on a Friday night?! Pop Tarts – whatta name – on a Monday morning is super fun and I look forward to being energised at the start of the work week. Its A Jangle Out There – such a top quality show, great radio voice and an evident depth of music knowledge – I feel like everything might just be okay when that show is on. Hot Buttered Soul is at the perfect time on the perfect day, especially when the sun is out and I have no where to be but home, it is such a feel good show and I always take away a new artist! CSC Hype – how amazing to have young people on air for an hour, sharing their thoughts on what is happening in the area and in the world – its so important to give young people the mic! Queer and Now is clearly an iconic show, great yaps on all things LGBTIQA+ and lots of hilarious anecdotes and ponderings, the hosts vibe is something really special. Also the Lowdown crew are epic! I want to say more but that’s probably blown the word count ha!
‘Community Radio’ to me means: Radio by the community, for the community. Grass roots, grounded, accessible, real and raw. Feel good stuff!
One memorable moment with my show so far is walking home from the station at midnight through a mob of kangaroos on Halford St!
Big love to all involved at MainFM.