A new Award has been included in the this year’s Australian Commercial Radio Awards to honour the memory of Matt Ellis who recently lost his long battle with cancer. The Matthew Ellis Encouragement Award, sponsored by the Macquarie Radio Network, has been named in honour of the former 2GB staffer who also worked extensively in regional radio.

The Award will be open to every regional winner at this year’s Australian Commercial Radio Awards. The winner will receive free tuition in any course relevant to radio, to the value of $2500, plus one week of work experience at either 2GB or 2CH, depending on their interest.

Merryn Vincent, chief operating officer at Macquarie Radio Network said: “The purpose of the Award is to encourage regional entrants to pursue their careers within radio, and to offer the recipient an educational opportunity that may not be available to them otherwise… Matt Ellis will always be remembered for his unconditional enthusiasm and absolute dedication to radio, and the winner of this award should possess these attributes.”

Ellis, aged 27 when he died, was a copywriter and comedy writer for Philip Clark and Luke Bona at the Macquarie Network. He had been working at 2GB since 1999 and was well respected and liked by his colleagues. Prior to his time at 2GB, Ellis worked in provincial and regional radio stations including Triple G/2MO Gunnedah; 4BU/HITZ FM Bundaberg; 4VL Charleville; 2CC Canberra; 2XLCooma and 2GN Goulburn.