AFTRS Radio alumni feature heavily among the finalists for the 2020/2021 Australian Commercial Radio Awards (ACRAs). Now in its 32nd year, the annual event celebrates excellence in all areas of radio broadcasting, and AFTRS alumni have been recognised among the industry’s best, receiving 20 nominations across 15 categories.
Kate, Tim & Joel’s Tim Blackwell (Graduate Diploma in Commercial Radio Broadcasting, 2001), who recently celebrated 20 years at Nova Entertainment, is competing in four of the top categories, nominated for Best On-Air Team – Metro FM, Best Entertainment Presenter, Best Networked Program, and Best Syndicated Australian Program.
Receiving two nods each were Shayne Sinclair (Graduate Diploma: Commercial Radio Broadcasting, 2007; Graduate Certificate: Commercial Radio Programming, 2004), contending for Best Station Promotion and Best Station Manager, Stephen Cenatiempo (Graduate Diploma: Radio Broadcasting, 2010), up for Best Talk Presenter and Best Current Affairs Presenter, and Sean Brown (Graduate Diploma in Radio, 2017), competing for Best Music Presenter and Best Newcomer On-Air.
Also nominated are Dana Hamilton for Best On-Air Team – Country & Provincial, Guy Clifton for Best Networked Program, Kent ‘Smallzy’ Small for Best Music Presenter, Mark Daniel for Best Station Produced Comedy Segment, Tyler-Claire Thompson for Best Newcomer On-Air, Natalie Peters and Craig Basset for the Brian White Award for Radio Journalism, Brad Pottinger for Best Music Special, Nat Penfold and Grace Garde for Best Show Producer – Entertainment/Music, Mike Byrne for Best Program Director and Rod McLeod for Best News Presenter Country & Provincial.
AFTRS Council Chair Russel Howcroft, who joined 3AW’s top-rating breakfast program in 2020, has been recognised in two categories, competing alongside co-host Ross Stevenson for Best On-Air Team – Metro AM and also for Best Newcomer On-Air.
Participants of AFTRS’ Industry Certificate: Radio Content, Leadership and Management, Glenn Stolzenhein, Michael Moffett, John Cranley, Veronica Howson, Trent Towson and Andrew Very are also nominated, competing across eight categories.
This year’s ACRAs cover work from both 2020 and 2021, making up for the cancellation of last year’s event. The live event will take place in Sydney at the International Convention Centre on Sunday 13 February 2022.
AFTRS ALUMNI NOMINATED AT THE 2021 AUSTRA LIANCOMMERCIAL RADIO AWARDS
BEST ON-AIR TEAM – METRO FM
Kate, Tim & Joel; Kate Ritchie, Tim Blackwell (Graduate Diploma in Commercial Radio Broadcasting, 2001)
& Joel Creasey, Nova Network, Sydney NSW, NOVA Entertainment
BEST ON-AIR TEAM – METRO AM
3AW Breakfast with Ross Stevenson & Russel Howcroft; Ross Stevenson & Russel Howcroft (AFTRS Council Chair), 3AW, Melbourne VIC, Nine Radio
BEST ON-AIR TEAM COUNTRY & PROVINCIAL
Harry & Dana; Dana Hamilton (Graduate Diploma in Radio, 2019) & Andrew Harrison, Power FM, Muswellbrook NSW, Grant Broadcasters (Country)
Stolzy & Damo; Glenn Stolzenhein (Industry Certificate: Radio Content, Leadership and Management) & Damien Leith, Power FM, Muswellbrook NSW, Grant Broadcasters (Country)
BEST TALK PRESENTER
Stephen Cenatiempo (Graduate Diploma: Radio Broadcasting, 2010); 2CC, Canberra ACT, Capital Radio Network (Provincial)
BEST NETWORKED PROGRAM
Cliffo & Gabi; Guy Clifton (Graduate Diploma in Commercial Radio Broadcasting, 2004) & Gabi Elgood, Southern Cross Austereo (Provincial)
Kate, Tim & Joel; Kate Ritchie, Tim Blackwell (Graduate Diploma in Commercial Radio Broadcasting, 2001) & Joel Creasey, NOVA Entertainment (Metropolitan)
BEST CURRENT AFFAIRS PRESENTER
Stephen Cenatiempo (Graduate Diploma: Radio Broadcasting, 2010); 2CC, Canberra ACT, Capital Radio Network (Non-Metropolitan)
BEST ENTERTAINMENT PRESENTER
Michael Moffett (Industry Certificate: Radio Content, Leadership and Management); Triple M, Coffs Harbour NSW, Southern Cross Austereo (Country)
Tim Blackwell (Graduate Diploma in Commercial Radio Broadcasting, 2001); Nova Network, Sydney NSW, NOVA Entertainment (Metropolitan)
BEST MUSIC PRESENTER
Sean Brown (Graduate Diploma in Radio, 2017); Hit 100.9,Hobart TAS, Southern Cross Austereo (Provincial)
Kent ‘Smallzy’ Small (Graduate Diploma in Commercial Radio Broadcasting, 2003); Nova Network, Sydney NSW, NOVA Entertainment (Metropolitan)
BEST SPORTS PRESENTER
Glenn Stolzenhein (Industry Certificate: Radio Content, Leadership and Management); 2NM, Muswellbrook NSW, Grant Broadcasters (Country)
BEST SYNDICATED AUSTRALIAN PROGRAM
Kate, Tim & Joel; Kate Ritchie, Tim Blackwell (Graduate Diploma in Commercial Radio Broadcasting, 2001) & Joel Creasey, NOVA Entertainment
BEST STATION PRODUCED COMEDY SEGMENT
Dry July Album; Glenn Stolzenhein (Industry Certificate: Radio Content, Leadership and Management) & Damien Leith, Power FM, Muswellbrook NSW, Grant Broadcasters (Country)
ScoMo’s Elocution Lesson; Lawrence Mooney & Mark Daniel (Advanced Diploma in Radio, 2015), Triple M, Sydney NSW, Southern Cross Austereo (Metropolitan)
BEST NEWCOMER ON-AIR
Sean Brown (Graduate Diploma in Radio, 2017); Hit 100.9, Hobart TAS, Southern Cross Austereo (Provincial)
Tyler-Claire Thompson (Graduate Diploma in Radio, 2019); i98FM, Wollongong NSW, WIN Network (Provincial)
Russel Howcroft (AFTRS Council Chair); 3AW, Melbourne VIC, Nine Radio (Metropolitan)
BRIAN WHITE AWARD FOR RADIO JOURNALISM
Natalie Peters (Graduate Diploma Commercial Radio Broadcasting Radio, 2007); 2GB, Sydney NSW, Nine Radio (Metropolitan)
Craig Basset (Graduate Certificate: Commercial Radio Programming, 2008); 2MG & Real FM, Mudgee NSW, Super Radio Network (Non-Metropolitan)
BEST MUSIC SPECIAL
Woodstock Moments – 50th Anniversary; Brad Pottinger (Graduate Certificate: Commercial Radio Programming, 2008), Ian Blackley & Rebecca Payne, 6IX, Perth WA, Capital Radio Network (Metropolitan)
BEST MULTIMEDIA EXECUTION – SALES
Eumundi – Pretty Good Here; Joshua Wilkinson, John Cranley (Industry Certificate: Radio Content, Leadership and Management) , Ebony Parke & Mix FM, Southern Cross Austereo & EONBroadcasting (Non-Metropolitan)
BEST STATION PROMOTION
Rabbit & Sarah’s $104,000 Kick Start The Coast; Cassie Grentell, Shayne Sinclair (Graduate Diploma: Commercial Radio Broadcasting, 2007; Graduate Certificate: Commercial Radio Programming, 2004), Donna Minton & Rabbit & Sarah, Star 104.5, Gosford NSW, NOVA Entertainment (Provincial)
BEST SALES PROMOTION
BarRat & Heidi’s Great Australian Dream; John Cranley (Industry Certificate: Radio Content, Leadership and Management) & Ebony Parke, Sea FM, Maroochydore QLD, EON Broadcasting (Non-Metropolitan)
BEST SHOW PRODUCER –ENTERTAINMENT/MUSIC
Nat Penfold (Advanced Diploma in Radio Essentials, 2016); The Edge, Western Sydney NSW, ARNNM
Grace Garde (Graduate Diploma in Radio, 2017); Hit 100.9, Hobart TAS, Southern Cross Austereo (Non-Metropolitan)
BEST SHOW PRODUCER – TALK/CURRENTAFFAIRS
Veronica Howson (Industry Certificate: Radio Content, Leadership and Management); Mix 104.9, Darwin NT, Grant Broadcasters (Non-Metropolitan)
BEST PROGRAM DIRECTOR
Shayne Sinclair (Graduate Diploma: Commercial Radio Broadcasting, 2007; Graduate Certificate: Commercial Radio Programming, 2004); Star 104.5, Central Coast NSW, NOVA Entertainment (Provincial)
Mike Byrne (Commercial Radio, 1989); WSFM, Sydney NSW, ARN (Metropolitan)
BEST MUSIC DIRECTOR
Trent Towson (Industry Certificate: Radio Content, Leadership and Management); Hit90.9, Gold Coast QLD, Southern Cross Austereo (Non-Metropolitan)
Andrew Very (Industry Certificate: Radio Content, Leadership and Management); 92.5 Triple M, Gold Coast QLD, Southern Cross Austereo (Non-Metropolitan)
BEST NEWS PRESENTER COUNTRY & PROVINCIAL
Rod McLeod (Commercial Radio, 1988); Triple M, Gold Coast QLD, Southern Cross Austereo (Provincial)
