Community Radio - A Stepping Stone
Author: Jacqui Mott | Source: Highlands FM | Date: 31-10-02
A good news story made the headlines at Canberra’s MIX FM this month, as the station’s Breakfast Senior Journalist, Tamra Mercieca achieved top honors at the ‘Rawards’.
Tamra was awarded ‘Best News Presenter in a Provincial Market’, in a field of three finalists, and in a competition which saw hundreds of nominations.
According to the 22 year old presenter, it was her experience with a country Victorian community radio station, Kyneton’s 3RAM FM, that helped her choose a career move to radio.
Reminiscing RAM
“ In 1997, I was attending Kyneton High School for Year 12 and someone told me about RAM, our community radio station. I’d always loved performing arts, so I thought radio could be a great extension of my interests.
RAM FM encouraged me and trained me … so I embarked on a weekly radio show for about a year.
After I left school, I studied at Melbourne’s Swinburne, obtaining a Graduate Diploma in Commercial Radio, and at that stage the area of researching, writing and presenting news seemed to be my main focus."
Tamra then stepped out into the big world of radio, finding employment with 5RM, Magic FM in the South Australian rural centre of Berri.
“ I was an announcer and copywriter, and then I moved into the news department. After a year with 5RM, I moved to Townsville, working for HOT FM 4TO, then in October last year I relocated to Canberra’s FM 104.7, working as a Breakfast Senior Journalist.
I’ve always enjoyed my work – and my grounding in local community radio gave me a taste of an industry, I knew nothing about and never thought I could access at that age – and I just went from there!”
Tamra’s current posting requires a 4 am to 11.30 am shift each weekday, but it seems there’s time for other interests.
“I love dancing, kickboxing, writing music – and I’m also in a new band called, ‘Karpark’."
Tamra is also completing a Bachelor of Arts, majoring in journalism.
“Looking ahead, way ahead - I would love to freelance as a lecturer.”