AFTRS Radio division is celebrating an incredible 33 nominations by 21 of its former and current students in this year’s Australian Commercial Radio Awards.

AFTRS’ Head of Radio, Lisa Sweeney says the country’s premier radio school is extremely proud of all the AFTRS-related finalists.

“Each year, the list of ACRA finalists contains many AFTRS alumni and 2014 is no exception. It is testament to the quality of our teaching and the depth of our impact on the commercial radio industry,” she says.

BEST NETWORKED PROGRAM

Taking Back the Night; Christian Argenti, Southern Cross Austereo 
Soul Sisters; Mel Dee Dzelde, Rebecca Dettman & Jane Donovan, Grant Broadcasters 
Kate, Tim & Marty; Kate Ritchie, Tim Blackwell & Marty Sheargold, Nova Entertainment 

BEST NEWCOMER ON-AIR

Ashleigh Blucher; Power FM, Bega NSW, Grant Broadcasters 
Murray Ryan; Eagle FM, Goulburn NSW, Capital Radio Network  

BEST CURRENT AFFAIRS PRESENTER

Sam Hargreaves; 3BO, Bendigo VIC, Southern Cross Austereo 
Stephen Cenatiempo; 2NM, Muswellbrook NSW, Grant Broadcasters 

BEST TALK PRESENTER

Stephen Cenatiempo; 2NM, Muswellbrook NSW, Grant Broadcasters  
Christian Argenti; Gold FM, Gold Coast QLD, Southern Cross Austereo 
Caroline Hutchinson; Mix FM, Maroochydore QLD, EON Broadcasting 

BEST ON-AIR TEAM – METRO FM

Kate, Tim & Marty; Kate Ritchie, Tim Blackwell & Marty Sheargold, Nova Network, Nova Entertainment 

BEST ON-AIR TEAM –  COUNTRY & PROVINICIAL

Mitch & Kellsey; Alex Mitchell & Kellsey Melhuish, Star FM, Dubbo NSW, Southern Cross Austereo 

BEST ENTERTAINMENT/MUSIC PRESENTER

Joseph Groth; Power FM, Bega NSW, Grant Broadcasters  
Jeff Tighe; Star FM, Dubbo NSW, Southern Cross Austereo 

BEST SPORTS PRESENTER

Sam Hargreaves; 3BO & 93.5, Bendigo VIC, Southern Cross Austereo 

BEST DIGITAL RADIO FORMAT – LONG TERM

Triple M Classic Rock Digital; Jaime Chaux, Jacqui Kassulke & Ryan Stuart, National, Southern Cross Austereo
Loveland Radio; Jaime Chaux, Jacqui Kassulke & Ryan Stuart, National, Southern Cross Austereo

BEST DIGITAL RADIO FORMAT – SHORT TERM

Elf Radio; Nick Condon, National, Australian Radio Network

BEST MUSIC SPECIAL

On Fire with the Stones; Michael Moffett, 2EC, Bega NSW, Grant Broadcasters 
Top 2014 Songs of all Time Countdown; Michael Moffett, 2EC, Bega NSW, Grant Broadcasters 
On Air with the Beatles; Michael Moffett, 2EC, Bega NSW, Grant Broadcasters 
Musical Showdown; Simon Dawson, Hot Tomato, Gold Coast QLD, Hot Tomato 

BEST NEWS PRESENTER – COUNTRY & PROVINCIAL

Stephen Cenatiempo; 2NM, Muswellbrook NSW, Grant Broadcasters  

BEST NEWS PRESENTER – METRO AM

Natalie Peters; 2GB, Sydney NSW, Macquarie Radio Network 

BEST SHOW PRODUCER – ENTERTAINMENT/MUSIC

Brendan Englebrecht; Ben & Kristie, Star FM, Albury NSW, Southern Cross Austereo 

BEST MUSIC DIRECTOR

Bryan Madigan; Sea FM, Gold Coast QLD, Southern Cross Austereo 
Aiden Grant; K-ROCK, Geelong VIC, Grant Broadcasters 

BEST PROGRAM DIRECTOR

Michael Moffett; 2EC & Power FM, Bega NSW, Grant Broadcasters 
Amy Collett; Star FM, Dubbo NSW, Southern Cross Austereo 
Andrew Very; Gold FM & Sea FM, Gold Coast QLD, Southern Cross Austereo 

BEST STATION PRODUCED COMEDY SEGMENT

Justin Beabi Throw Eggs The Album; Mark Krivo, Power FM, Muswellbrook NSW, Southern Cross Austereo 
What Did Manu Say?; Alex Mitchell, Star FM, Dubbo NSW, Southern Cross Austereo 
Guide To Facebook; Aiden Grant, K-Rock, Geelong VIC, Grant Broadcasters 

BEST COMMUNITY SERVICE PROJECT

East Coast Radiothon; Michael Moffett & Kim Gardner, 2EC & Power FM, Bega NSW, Grant Broadcasters 
 

On the other side of the continent, in Perth, The Central Institute of Technology is celebrating that three of its 2013 graduates are nominated for an ACRA award.
 
Gemma Maddox – is nominated for Best Music Director in a Country Market (Max FM, Taree NSW, Super Radio Network)
 
Loz & Jack; Lauren McWhirter & Jack Van der Heyden have been nominated for Best On-Air Team in a Country Market. (Zoo FM, Dubbo NSW, Super Radio Network)
 
All three students are products of the new courses and state of the art facilities coming out of Leederville Campus. They have all been integral members of the College Radio Station ‘Boom Radio’. To tune in visit: www.boomradio.com.au and https://www.facebook.com/boomradioau
 
“Having an individual graduate from our new radio courses nominated is a big deal, but to have three from the classes of 2013 nominated is beyond exceptional.
As individuals their achievement is massive considering all three have been nominated within their first year of industry. We believe this is our greatest validation that we are developing one of the strongest commercial  radio courses in Australia,” says Phillip  Vinciullo, Course Coordinator Radio | media | creative industries.