Dapto’s newest radio star in the making

HELEN GOLTZ

Dapto resident and potential radio star Penny Newman, 24, is bracing herself for her first live radio broadcast on the official radio station for the Sydney Royal Easter Show, Show Radio 107.9.

Ms Newman is one of 14 radio students at the Australian Film Television and Radio School (AFTRS) who will broadcast live for two weeks from the Sydney Royal Easter Show at Sydney Olympic Park.

Ms Newman said she could not wait for the experience.

“I’m a bit nervous but it is going to be great fun,” she said.

“It’s a great environment to work in.”

“Living on showbag food for 14 days straight, and hanging with the animals – I can’t wait.

“I have wanted to work in radio for years, both on air and as a producer.

“At the moment I am working towards being a producer.

“I have been preparing for a long time and I have done volunteer community radio station work at Vox FM since I was 15 years old.”

Ms Newman and her fellow AFTRS students will broadcast from a small glass studio located next to the media centre from March 20 to April 2.

Their role is to keep listeners up-to-date with everything that’s happening at the Show while playing country music.

The broadcast will also be available on the Show Radio website.

Broadcasting for more than 10 years at the Sydney Royal Easter Show, Radio director Steve Ahern said Show Radio was the first opportunity to hear the 2008 Graduate Diploma radio students on Sydney airwaves since they began their AFTRS Graduate Diploma course at the start of this year.

“This broadcast is a lot of fun,” Mr Ahern said.

“But it also puts a lot of pressure on the students.

“They will learn a lot from the experience.”

Shellharbour show-goers are encouraged to keep an eye out for Penny in her Show Radio shirt or visit the studio to hear a new career in the making.