ACRAs Finalists Fever – #10

Staff Writer

There are thousands of hard-working, dedicated and amazingly creative people throughout the radio industry – and every year a small fraction of those people make the short list as a finalist in the ACRAs.

Today we feature, Tim Bergh and Bryce Ruthven & Tracey Sergiacomi.  Let’s Roll Out the Red Carpet….

The ACRAs Finalists Fever – counting down the days to the big event on October 8 by profiling the finalists across all categories. You can get involved by emailing us [email protected] 

 

BEST NETWORKED PROGRAM

Individual Home Loans – Financial Fairy Tales; Tim Bergh & Sally Fleay, 4CC, Central QLD, Grant Broadcasters C 

Give us a quick snapshot of your radio background…

I’ve been in the radio game since I was twelve, so it’s coming up to thirteen years in the industry! I started off as the Work Experience Kid at More FM Christchurch (where I grew up). Shortly after, I scored my own Community Radio Show, which went onto win a Kiwi Radio Gong. Of course, as most kiwis do, I jumped the ditch and managed to grab one day a week at Hot Tomato in Promotions on the Goldie. Then, it was down to Sydney to complete the AFTRS Grad Dip Course… and the rest is history! 2MG Mudgee, 2GF Grafton, 5RM Berri, Hot 91 Sunshine Coast and now Southern Cross Austereo at Newcastle make up the employment page of my Resume! What a ride it’s been!

Best part of your job…

The People! I’ve always quoted the saying – “if you love what you do, you’ll never work a day in your life” and it’s so true! I’ve never once woken up and thought – “I don’t want to go to work today!”… It’s always been a pleasure to be around my colleagues at every station I’ve worked at… Sure, some of them have been interesting and challenging at times, but that’s what makes for a fun workplace!

 

Tell us about your Entry…

I’d been working for the Grant Broadcasters Creative Team based on the Sunshine Coast for the past two years until my recent move south. My creative angle for this entry was to put some fun back into Home Loans. I’ve only recently purchased my first home, so I knew the battles you sometimes have to go through to actually secure the money you need. ‘Financial Fairy Tales’ came about when I started thinking about the beginning of people’s lives together – before the kids always comes the house! So, my idea was to create a storyline where Mummy tells her kids about how she got her first home. The result was amazing for the client! Individual Home Loans experienced a massive spike in enquiries – a great feeling.
 

Your speech, if you were able to make one…There are so many people to thank! I honestly wouldn’t be in radio if it wasn’t for those people who gave me a go! Massive thanks have to go to Hans Torv and the Hot Tomato Team – they started my career in Aussie Radio, and I’m proud to say I was their first… and maybe last Work Experience Kid! Mal Rock at 2MG secured me my first commercially paid gig… Ron Bell mentored me at 2GF Grafton, and the same goes for Cheryl Larder at 5RM Berri… Everyone has played a part in my success. Finally, I have to thank Selina Hynes and her Network Creative Team at Grant Broadcasters Queensland. If it wasn’t for them, I wouldn’t have been able to have such a quality entry. Selina backed me even when I doubted myself – her team are amazing and I have them to thank for this ACRA Nomination.
I also need to make special mention of Ash Myatt at SCA. The last seven months with the team at Newcastle have been the best of my career! He is such a dedicated and passionate leader, and I’m proud to work under his team. His commitment to me and my career has been second to none – thanks Ash!
What’s the

BBEST ON-AIR TEAM COUNTRY & PROVINCIAL

Bryce & Trace; Bryce Ruthven & Tracey Sergiacomi, Hitz939, Bundaberg QLD, Grant Broadcasters C

Tell us about you..

Bryce: I started off in radio in 2010 with Hot FM in Rockhampton. Since then, I’ve worked at 4RO, ZZZ FM in Lismore, Sea FM Gold Coast, TR FM Gippsland and now Hitz 939. Along with working on-air, I’ve previously worked in promotions, imaging and now work with a strong passion of mine in digital and social media.

Trace: I started as a receptionist at Hitz in 2009 then in 2010 started on the Hitz breaky show where I’ve had a few co-hosts come and go over the years. Currently I have the roles of Breakfast announcer and Promotions Manager and Bryce and I now hold the title of the number one radio show in Bundy after our recent survey!
 

Tell us about your Entry..

Our Best On-Air team entry basically sums us up in 60 seconds. We would have to be one of the very few shows in the country that have such a big age gap between co-hosts but we both agree the age difference brings out the best of both of us. We like to take the mickey out of each other and others (where reasonable), we like to push the boundaries and think there’s not many 27 and 44 year old’s that get along as well as we do.

Our Guy Sebastian music special came about with a mix of Guy visiting the Wide Bay for a few concerts and Bryce’s huge man crush on the former Idol winner. It was based around a ‘This Is Your Life’ feel to it and spoke about him growing up as a kid, Aussie Idol, his charity and a whole range of other things. It was well received by our listeners (plus boosted ticket sales which the client was happy about – still not as happy as Bryce though) and even gained compliments from the man himself who listened to the special and was so impressed he invited Bryce to perform with him at his Bundy concert for a song (which then had people walking out!).

 

What’s the best part of your job?

Being able to entertain our listeners on a daily basis, plus the unlimited amount of Bundy Brewed Drinks we have access too!

You get it, so let rip with the speach,,,

Bryce: I’d like to thank all the PD’s I’ve worked with in the past, each of you have taught me a certain skill or told me something not to do which has helped me to this day. Definitely need to thank Trace, Guy Sebastian for agreeing to do the music special (sorry about all the tweets) and the Cronulla Sharks for having a great 2016 and providing some good banter on-air between listeners, Trace and myself. I should also probably thank my Mum, if I didn’t I’d probably get a Facebook message in 5 minutes asking why she didn’t get a mention so there you go Mum!

Trace: Firstly I would like to thank my former PD Kane Martin for having faith that a receptionist could be an announcer. I would also like to thank my previous co-hosts for teaching me a lot and but especially Bryce. We argue about absolutely everything but he has helped me come out of my shell on-air. I would also like to thank my family for putting up with my grumpy moods at the end of week due to the early starts.

 

 

Are You an ACRAs Finalist?

If you’re a finalist in Metropolitan, Non-Metropolitan, Provincial or Country drop us a line and we’ll shine the spotlight on you. Email Blair  here.

 

 

 
 
 
 

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