Taking it to the streets

There are few better places to learn the radio ropes than as a member of the Street Team.

Some of Australia’s most successful radio and TV identities started their careers driving Black Thunders and handing out icy cold cans of Coke, gaining practical skills in everything from on-air presentation to event planning and promotions.

Laura Bouchet – who was this week appointed Assistant Content Director at 104.9 Triple M Sydney – started out as a member of the Street Team.

So too did Abby Coleman, one third of the Hit Network’s popular Brisbane Breakfast team Stav, Abby and Matt.

In an interview with Craig Bruce on The Game Changers podcast, Abby reminisced about driving Black Thunders for the SAFM Breakfast show with James Brayshaw and Amanda Blair, revealing that back then, radio wasn’t part of her game plan.

“Radio wasn’t anything I really wanted to do.”

“I got a job doing Thunders and they said ‘Do you want to do more?’ I was like ‘No, I want to do theatre.’”

“I did it for two years, driving Thunders and doing bits and pieces on radio, but I never really saw it as a career.”

It would seem life had other ideas for Abby.

Megan Harvey – Queensland Sports and Partnerships Manager at Southern Cross Austereo – is another radio success story who started her career with the street team.

Andy Mathers started out as a nineteen year old driving the ‘K rock Cruiser’ in Geelong over summer.

Today, he’s the General Manager of K rock and Bay FM.

In 2017, Mathers told Radio Today “It’s probably fair to say that when it came to handing out the icy cold cans of Coke and packets of Samboy chips, you’re looking at one of the best there was (self-rated).”

“Quite strange to look back now sitting in the GM’s chair … would I employ me?”