ACE shines at radio awards

ACE Radio has performed strongly at national radio industry awards in Melbourne.

The regional broadcaster, which includes stations 3WM and MIXX FM as well as The Weekly Advertiser, clinched several accolades at Australian Commercial Radio Awards, ACRAS, in Melbourne on Saturday night.

Radio personalities and programs that feature prominently across the airwaves in the Wimmera, Mallee and Grampians, were among major winners.

These included 3WM’S The Morning Rush with Jon Vertigan and Kate Meade, which won the best-networked program and MIXX FM’S Brekkie with Courtney Mcintyre and Matt Lipiarski, best on-air team.

The Horsham station also had finalists in Emma Elsom in a best news presenter category and Holly King, best newcomer off-air, country.

Other winners from across the ACE network included: Ray Adams, 3HA-MIXX FM, best commercial; Nick Hay and Anne Sutherland, 3CS-MIXX FM, best multimedia execution; Bryce Ruthven 2QN-EDGE FM remote shift, best music present; Monkey and Big Fella and Lachie Rooke, Coast FM, best community service project; Alex Knock, 3Yb-coast FM, best newcomer off air; Angela Frino 2QN-EDGE FM, best content director; Lance White, 3CSMIXX FM, best news presenter; and Jon Vertigan, 3YB, best comedy segment.

ACE Horsham general manager Brendan O’loughlin said the awards were reflective of the quality product the network produced.

“The ACRAS are pretty much the Logies of the Australian radio industry and from an ACE Radio point of view, we have achieved a magnificent result this year – not only in rubbing shoulders with the best in the industry, but winning recognition as national benchmarks,” he said.

“From a Wimmera, Mallee and Grampians perspective the success at the awards shows the commercial product we’re producing on the airwaves is second to none in Australia.

“They also consolidate research radio-listener survey results, which tell us we’re more than hitting the mark with what our listeners want.”