Saturday’s Australian Commerical Radio Awards (ACRAs) were full of memorable moments.
But when Kate Ritchie accepted the award for Best On-Air Team (FM) alongside Nova co-hosts Marty Sheargold and Tim Blackwell for their program Kate, Tim and Marty, emotions ran high.
The 39-year-old fought back tears as she thanked WSFM veteran Amanda Keller for making her feel like she ‘fits in’ in an industry that was foreign to her at the beginning of her radio career.
‘I’ve always worried about whether I fit in here’: Emotions ran high in the room when Kate Ritchie (C) accepted the ACRA for Best On-Air Team alongside Tim Blackwell (L) and Marty Sheargold (R)
‘I come from another industry and I’ve always worried about whether I fit in here and worry if this is where I’m meant to be,’ Kate said.
‘Tonight’s the first night that I ever heard anyone say anything that made me think that maybe this is what I want to do, so thank you very much.’
Before the emotional speech, Amanda was inducted into the association’s Hall of Fame by her good friend Andrew Denton, shedding tears as he made the announcement.
Upon accepting the award, the 55-year-old reflected on her illustrious career in radio and offered some solace to those who work in the medium.
‘Thank you very much’: The 39-year-old fought back tears on stage as she thanked WSFM veteran Amanda Keller for making her feel like she ‘fits in’
Making history: Amanda was inducted into the association’s Hall of Fame by her good friend Andrew Denton, shedding tears as he made the announcement
‘We do it as a job but it’s easy to forget what impact it has. Life can be hard for people, it can be boring, it can be challenging, it can be joyous. We’re there for all of it and I think that’s a big deal and it’s a privilege to do it,’ she said.
2GB shock jock Ray Hadley was also accepted into the Hall of Fame and picked up two ACRAs for Best On-Air Team (AM) for The Continuous Call Team program and Best Talk Presenter.
His colleague Ben Fordham picked up the award for Best Current Affairs Presenter, while Kyle Sandilands and Jackie ‘O’ Henderson were awarded Best Networked Program for The Kyle and Jackie O Show.
‘We do it as a job but it’s easy to forget what impact it has’: The 55-year-old reflected on her illustrious career in radio, and offered some solace to those who work in the industry
The Chaser’s brand of satire was out in full force as they MC’ed the event, with Andrew Hansen and Chris Taylor making jokes about the awards and calling them the ‘ugly people’s Logies.’
Taking aim at AM radio during the show’s opening monologue, they referenced an incident earlier this year in which former Hey Hey, It’s Saturday host Red Symons asked his guest on a podcast a series of offensive questions about her race.
‘The AM shock jocks have had one of their most restrained, civilised years in ages…it says a lot when the most inflammatory, racist broadcast on the AM band came from Red Symons on the ABC,’ Chris said.
‘After Red teed off on Asians, 2GB actually offered him a five-year contract,’ Andrew joked.
The full list of ACRA winners is below.
2017 ACRA WINNERS
Best On-Air Team (Metro FM) – Kate, Tim and Marty; Kate Richie, Tim Blackwell, and Marty Sheargold, NOVA Network, Nova Entertainment
Best On-Air Team (Metro AM) – The Continuous Call Team; Ray Hadley, Erin Molan, Darryl Brohman, Bob Fulton, David Morrow, Mark Riddell, Chris Warren and Mark Levy, 2GB, Sydney NSW, Macquarie Media Limited
Best On-Air Team (Country) – Amber and Billows; Amber Wheatland and Michael Billings Sunraysia’s Hit 99.5, Mildura VIC, Southern Cross Austereo
Best On-Air Team (Provincial) – Flan & Emily Jade with Christo; Sean Flanagan, Emily Jade O’Keefe & David Christopher, 102.9 Hot Tomato, Gold Coast QLD, Hot Tomato
Best Entertainment/Music Presenter (Metro) – Kent ‘Smallzy’ Small; Nova Network, NOVA Entertainment
Best Entertainment/Music Presenter (Country) – Brady Ellis; Magic 89.9, Port Lincoln SA, Grant Broadcasters
Best Entertainment/Music Presenter (Provincial) – Dave Rabbetts; Star 104.5, Gosford NSW, NOVA Entertainment
Best Talk Presenter (Metro) – Ray Hadley; 2GB, Sydney NSW, Macquarie Media Limited
Best Talk Presenter (Country) – Stephen Cenatiempo; 2NM, Muswellbrook NSW, Grant Broadcasters
Best Talk Presenter (Provincial) – Chris Coleman; 2CC, Canberra ACT, Capital Radio Network
Best Current Affairs Presenter (Metro) – Ben Fordham; 2GB, Sydney NSW, Macquarie Media Limited
Best Current Affairs Presenter (National Metro) – Tim Shaw; 2CC, Canberra ACT, Capital Radio Network
Best Sports Presenter (Metro) – Peter Sterling; Triple M, Sydney NSW, Southern Cross Austereo
Best Sports Presenter (Country) – Jock Brady; 3CS & Mixx FM, Colac VIC, ACE Radio Broadcasters
Best Sports Presenter (Provincial) – Tom King; K rock, Geelong VIC, Grant Broadcasters
Best Networked Program (Metro) – The Kyle & Jackie O Show; Kyle Sandilands & Jackie Henderson, Australian Radio Network
Best Networked Program (Country) – The Morning Rush; Jon Vertigan & Kate Meade, ACE Radio Broadcasters
Best Networked Program (Provincial) -Ned & Josh; Ned Breward & Josh Torney, Southern Cross Austereo
Best Syndicated Australian Program – Boxed In; Fifi Box, Southern Cross Austereo
‘Thank you very much’ Kate Ritchie was moved to tears as she accepted her award