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Kate Ritchie, Ben Fordham, Kyle & Jackie O among big ACRA winners, Triple M’s Lee Simon enters Hall of Fame

Nova FM’s Kate Ritchie, 2GB’s Ben Fordham and Kiis FM’s Kyle Sandilands and Jackie ‘O’ Henderson were the big winners at the 30th Australian Commercial Radio Awards, while veteran Triple M broadcaster Lee Simon entered the industry’s Hall of Fame.

Ritchie, who has worked on the Nova FM national drive show with Tim Blackwell and Marty Sheargold since 2014, took home the award for best entertainment presenter, while the drive show also won awards for the best networked program and best syndicated program.

Kate Ritchie won best entertainment presenter, while the Nova drive team with Ritchie, Tim Blackwell and Marty Sheargold won another two awards

2GB drive time host Ben Fordham won best talk presenter for the fourth time and also won the Brian White Award for Radio Journalism.

Kiis FM Sydney’s Sandilands and Henderson took out the big FM gong, winning best on-air team (FM) for the sixth time. It is the second time since joining ARN’s Kiis network the pair have won the award. The team also won best marketing campaign and best multimedia execution.

2GB’s Continuous Call Team with Ray Hadley, Bob Fulton, Darryl Brohmann, Erin Molan, Mark Riddell, Chris Warren and Mark Levy, who won the AM award for best on-air team.

At the same time, industry veteran Lee Simon was inducted into the Hall of Fame. Simon retired from Triple M in September after 47 years this year. He started his career at 3AW in the 1970s before becoming the host of late night Channel Nine TV music program, Nightmoves.

In 1980, Simon became program director of the newly-launched EON FM, which later became Melbourne’s Triple M. During his time with Triple M, Simon launched AFL coverage on the FM dial in 1995 and has since been part of the AFL coverage.

The Hall of Fame recipient is nominated by industry peers and selected by an executive level judging committee.

Commercial Radio Australia CEO Joan Warner described Simon as “radio royalty”.

“We’re delighted to recognise the tremendous contribution he’s made to music and sports broadcasting in this country and his impact on the development of FM radio,” Warner said.

Simon said it had been an incredibly journey.

“I am truly fortunate and honoured to have been given the opportunity to work alongside radio’s greats and future greats and to play a role in an industry I still love as passionately as I did on day one, five decades ago,” he said.

Southern Cross Austereo CEO Grant Blackley said Simon had an “incredible passion” for the radio industry, thanking him for his contribution.

“Lee has led with big picture vision and entertained and mentored so many individuals throughout his career,” Blackley said.

“The industry is indebted to Lee not only for what he has achieved but importantly the manner with which he has engaged with our stakeholders with absolute professionalism.”

Other notable achievements came from Smooth FM’s Melissa Doyle who won best music presenter, new 2DayFM breakfast host Grant Denyer’s win of best newcomer on air and Neil Mitchell adding a 21st award to his belt, for best current affairs presenter.

A full list of the 2018 ACRA winners can be seen below.

WINNERS FOR 2018 AUSTRALIAN COMMERCIAL RADIO AWARDS (ACRAs)
Please note: Category Finalists are denoted with the following letters:
Country (C), Provincial (P), Non Metropolitan (NM), Metropolitan (M), Syndication/Production Company (S/PC)

BEST ON-AIR TEAM – METRO FM
The Kyle & Jackie O Show; Kyle Sandilands & Jackie Henderson, KIIS 106.5, Sydney NSW, Australian Radio Network M

BEST ON-AIR TEAM – METRO AM
Ray Hadley’s Continuous Call Team; Ray Hadley, Bob Fulton, Erin Molan, Darryl Brohman, Mark Riddell, Mark Levy & Chris Warren,
2GB, Sydney NSW, Macquarie Media Limited M

BEST ON-AIR TEAM COUNTRY & PROVINCIAL
Brekkie with Courtney & Lippi; Matt Lipiarski & Courtney McIntyre, Mixx FM, Hamilton VIC, ACE Radio Broadcasters C
Rabbit & Julie Goodwin; Dave Rabbetts & Julie Goodwin, Star 104.5, Gosford NSW, NOVA Entertainment P

BEST ENTERTAINMENT PRESENTER
Michael Moffett; Triple M, Coffs Harbour NSW, Southern Cross Austereo C
Tanya Hennessy; hit104.7, Canberra ACT, ARN/SCA P
Kate Ritchie; Nova Network, NOVA Entertainment M

BEST TALK PRESENTER
Sarah Boorer; 2BS Gold, Bathurst NSW, Bathurst Broadcasters C
Brian Carlton; LAFM, Launceston TAS, Grant Broadcasters P
Ben Fordham; 2GB, Sydney NSW, Macquarie Media Limited M

BEST CURRENT AFFAIRS PRESENTER
Katie Woolf; Mix 104.9, Darwin NT, Grant Broadcasters NM
Neil Mitchell; 3AW, Melbourne VIC, Macquarie Media Limited M

BEST SYNDICATED AUSTRALIAN PROGRAM
Kate, Tim & Marty; Kate Ritchie, Tim Blackwell, Marty Sheargold & The Nova Entertainment Syndication Team, NOVA Entertainment

BEST SPORTS PRESENTER

Martin Agatyn; 7AD, Devonport TAS, Grant Broadcasters C
Tom King; K rock, Geelong VIC, Grant Broadcasters P
Isa Guha; Triple M, Melbourne VIC, Southern Cross Austereo M

BEST NETWORKED PROGRAM
The Morning Rush; Jon Vertigan & Kate Meade, ACE Radio Broadcasters C
Australia by Night with Stephen Cenatiempo; Stephen Cenatiempo, Triple M regional network, Southern Cross Austereo P
Kate, Tim & Marty; Kate Ritchie, Tim Blackwell & Marty Sheargold, NOVA Entertainment M

BEST MUSIC PRESENTER
Bryce Ruthven; Edge FM, Deniliquin NSW, ACE Radio Broadcasters C
Josh Olek; K rock, Geelong VIC, Grant Broadcasters P
Melissa Doyle; smoothfm, Sydney NSW, NOVA Entertainment M

BEST MARKETING CAMPAIGN
Triple M’s Give Me 5 For Kids; Southern Cross Austereo Marketing, Regional Triple M Network, Southern Cross Austereo NM
KIIS1065 & Kyle & Jackie O; ARN Marketing & KIIS1065 Content Team, Australian Radio Network M

ENGINEERING EXCELLENCE
Voyager2.0: API powered asset management; Phil Elzerman, Dan Jackson & Cameron St. Clair, Triple M, Sydney NSW, Southern
Cross Austereo

BRIAN WHITE AWARD FOR RADIO JOURNALISM

Katie Woolf; Mix 104.9, Darwin NT, Grant Broadcasters NM
Ben Fordham; 2GB, Sydney NSW, Macquarie Media Limited M

BEST NEWCOMER ON-AIR
Paris Humphrey; OneFM, Tamworth NSW, Super Radio Network C
Christie Hayes; i98FM, Wollongong NSW, WIN Network P
Grant Denyer; 2Day FM, Sydney NSW, Southern Cross Austereo M

BEST SPORTS EVENT COVERAGE
2018 Grand Final Call; Ben Casanelia & Tom King, K rock, Geelong VIC, Grant Broadcasters NM
The 2017 AFL Grand Final; Triple M Football, Triple M, Melbourne VIC, Southern Cross Austereo M

BEST NEWS PRESENTER COUNTRY & PROVINCIAL

Lance White; 3CS & Mixx FM, Colac VIC, ACE Radio Broadcasters C
Caitlin
Unger; Star 104.5, Gosford NSW, NOVA Entertainment P

BEST NEWS PRESENTER – METRO FM
Ron Wilson; smoothfm, Sydney NSW, NOVA Entertainment M

BEST NEWS PRESENTER – METRO AM
Erin Maher; 2GB, Sydney NSW, Macquarie Media Limited M

BEST DIGITAL RADIO FORMAT
Coles Radio; Coles Radio Team, NOVA Entertainment

BEST STATION PRODUCED COMEDY SEGMENT
Parenting the Teenagers Maiden; Jon Vertigan, 3YB, Warrnambool VIC, ACE Radio Broadcasters C
First World Problems; Nick Gill, Jess Farchione, Simon Baggs, Ashleigh Smith & Mark Brewer, hit106.9, Newcastle NSW Southern
Cross Austereo P
Sam Pang joins smoothfm; Chrissie Swan, Sam Pang, Jonathan Brown & Dean Thomas, Nova 100, Melbourne VIC, NOVA
Entertainment M

BEST SHOW PRODUCER – ENTERTAINMENT/MUSIC
Nicole Levey; Tanya & Steve, KOFM, Newcastle NSW, Southern Cross Austereo NM
Sacha French; The Hughesy & Kate Show, Hit Network, Southern Cross Austereo M

BEST SHOW PRODUCER – TALK/CURRENT AFFAIRS
Eddie Williams; 2CC Breakfast with Tim Shaw, 2CC, Canberra ACT, Capital Radio Network NM
Paul Christenson; The Alan Jones Show, 2GB, Sydney NSW, Macquarie Media Limited M

BEST MUSIC DIRECTOR
Mike Ormond-Birch; Sea FM, Devonport TAS, Grant Broadcasters C
Trent Towson; Sea FM, Gold Coast QLD, Southern Cross Austereo P
Jack Ball; hit105, Brisbane QLD, Southern Cross Austereo M

BEST PROMOTIONS DIRECTOR
Molly Perrett; bay 93.9 & K rock, Geelong VIC, Grant Broadcasters NM
Andy Procopis; KIIS & GOLD Networks; Australian Radio Network M

BEST PROGRAM DIRECTOR
Angela Frino; 2QN & Edge FM, Deniliquin NSW, ACE Radio Broadcasters C
James Speed; K rock, Geelong VIC, Grant Broadcasters P
Adrian Brine; FOX FM, Melbourne VIC, Southern Cross Austereo M

BEST DOCUMENTARY
Everybody’s Sister Connie Johnson; Kristen Henry, Mix 106.3, Canberra ACT, ARN/SCA NM
Danny Frawley with Hamish McLachlan; Hamish McLachlan & Danny Frawley, SEN 1116, Melbourne VIC, Pacific Star Network M

BEST ACHIEVEMENT IN PRODUCTION
Andrew Andrews; Real FM, Mudgee NSW, Super Radio Network C
Matthew Fulton; Hot Tomato, Gold Coast QLD, Hot Tomato P
Jerimiah Busniak; Hit Network, Southern Cross Austereo M

BEST MUSIC SPECIAL
Zoo FM turns 21; Melanni Heldon, Zoo FM, Dubbo NSW, Super Radio Network C
A-Z of Forever Classics; Peter Davidson & Marc McCreadie, 2CA, Canberra ACT, Capital Radio Network P
Paul McCartney ONE-ON-ONE with Amanda Keller; WSFM Content, Campaigns & Activations & Amanda Keller, WSFM, Sydney
NSW, Australian Radio Network M
Fleetwood Mac – Rumours; Barry Bissell, Jeff Jenkins & Andy Wells, Andy Wells Media S/P

BEST STATION SALES ACHIEVEMENT
4SB Sales; Kingaroy QLD, Resonate Regional Radio NM
1116 SEN Direct Sales Team; Melbourne VIC, Pacific Star Network M

BEST AGENCY SALESPERSON
Anne Sutherland; The Radio Sales Network, Melbourne VIC, Grant Broadcasters

BEST DIRECT SALESPERSON
Kristy Cooper; 2DU & Zoo FM, Dubbo NSW, Super Radio Network C
Mandy Mills; Sea FM & Gold FM, Gold Coast QLD, Southern Cross Austereo P
Duncan Fosdike; hit107 & Triple M, Adelaide SA, Southern Cross Austereo M

BEST STATION PRODUCED COMMERCIAL – SINGLE
Dela-Vee Hair Studio; Ray Adams, 3HA & Mixx FM, Hamilton VIC, ACE Radio Broadcasters C
Music Box; Anna Cook, Star 104.5, Gosford NSW, NOVA Entertainment P
WAAPA Carousel; Aussie Moore, Mitch Mitchell & Carl Step, Mix 94.5, Perth WA, Southern Cross Austereo M

BEST STATION PRODUCED COMMERCIAL – CAMPAIGN
Wyong Family Practice – Bad Ink; Cameron Horn & David Horspool, Sea FM, Gosford NSW, Southern Cross Austereo NM
Pancake Parlour; Darren Collins & Chris Gates, FOX FM, Melbourne VIC, Southern Cross Austereo M

BEST SALES PROMOTION
Lucky $5 Note; Jeanette Loring, 7BU, Burnie TAS, Grant Broadcasters C
Block Your Street; KOFM Promotions Team, KOFM, Newcastle NSW, Southern Cross Austereo P
Tradie-oke; Fifi Box, Brendan Fevola & Byron Cooke, FOX FM, Melbourne VIC, Southern Cross Austereo M

BEST MULTIMEDIA EXECUTION – SALES
Mixx FM & Coles Colac Store Opening Promotion; Nick Hay & Anne Sutherland, Mixx FM, Colac VIC, ACE Radio Broadcasters NM
Quit with Haydo The Studio Adelaide; Triple M, Adelaide SA, Southern Cross Austereo
Kyle and Jackie O’s You Get A Car; KIIS 1065 Campaigns & Activations, Content, Integration and Sales, KIIS 106.5, Sydney NSW,
Australian Radio Network M

BEST MULTIMEDIA EXECUTION – STATION
The Danihers vs The All Stars AFL Legends Game; Leigh Ryan, Mandy Page, Triple M Riverina & Triple M Riverina MIA Production
Team, Triple M Riverina & Triple M Riverina MIA, Wagga Wagga NSW, Southern Cross Austereo C
Hit104.7 Skyfire 30; Zak Davies, Ned Breward, Josh Torney, Matty Heap, Rod Cuddihy, Adam Jansen, Bethany Larsen, Taylor Hunt,
Alexandra Carlon & Georgia Duck, hit104.7, Canberra ACT, ARN/SCA P
#Yes2Love; Tim Arnold, Julia Foskey, Madaline Edye & Eleni Paneras, The Hit Network, Southern Cross Austereo M

BEST STATION PROMOTION
The Big Sherrin; Triple M Riverina MIA Promotions Team, Triple M The Riverina & Triple M Riverina MIA, Griffith NSW, Southern
Cross Austereo C
Eviction Bus; Sea FM Team, Sea FM, Gold Coast QLD, Southern Cross Austereo P
Nova’s Red Room Global Tour 2017; Nova’s Red Room Project Team, Nova Network, Sydney NSW, NOVA Entertainment M

BEST COMMUNITY SERVICE PROJECT
Walking Tall; Matty Stewart & Matt Monk, Coast FM, Warrnambool VIC, ACE Radio Broadcasters C
i98FM’s Illawarra Convoy; i98FM Convoy Team, i98FM, Wollongong NSW, WIN Network P
Radiothon; Katherine Tonkin, Peter Clay, Alex Martin, Polly-India Morcillo, Polly Goodchild & Vanessa Butcher, smoothfm, Sydney
NSW, NOVA Entertainment M

BEST NEWCOMER OFF-AIR
Alexandra Knock; 3YB & Coast FM, Warrnambool VIC, ACE Radio Broadcasters C
Nat Penfold; The Edge, Western Sydney NSW, Australian Radio Network P
Pedro Cuccovillo Vitola; KIIS 1065, Sydney NSW, Australian Radio Network M

BEST ORIGINAL PODCAST – UNBRANDED
Mum Says My Memoir Is A Lie; Rosie Waterland, PodcastOne, Southern Cross Austereo

BEST ORIGINAL PODCAST – BRANDED
Modern Babies; Genea & the Nova Entertainment Podcast Team, NOVA Entertainment

BEST RADIO SHOW PODCAST
Chrissie, Sam & Browny; Chrissie Swan, Sam Pang & Jonathan Brown, NOVA Entertainment

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