AFTRS alumni feature prominently again this year in the finalists list for the Australian Commercial Radio Awards.

Former students are well represented with 45 finalists across 19 categories in the 26th annual ACRAs.

They include;

• Tim Blackwell (2008) for Nova Entertainment, who is in the running for Best On-Air Team FM (Metro)

• Kent Small (2003) for Nova Entertainment for ‘Smallzy Live From The ARIA Awards’ – Best Music Special

• Holly Spillane (2013) for EON Broadcasting – Sea FM Maroochydore – Best Newcomer On-Air category (Provincial).

The winners will be announced following the National Radio Conference, at a gala event in Melbourne on Saturday, October 10.

Full list of AFTRS alumni finalists:

BEST ON-AIR TEAM – METRO FM 

Kate, Tim & Marty; Kate Ritchie, Tim Blackwell & Marty Sheargold, Nova Network, NOVA Entertainment M 

BEST ON-AIR TEAM COUNTRY & PROVINCIAL 

Bryce Ruthven & Tracey Sergiacomi, Hitz939, Bundaberg QLD, Grant Broadcasters C Crystal & Chris; Crystal Vas & Chris Nairn, Power FM, Bega NSW, Grant Broadcasters C 

BEST ENTERTAINMENT/MUSIC PRESENTER 

Joe Groth; Sea FM, Maroochydore QLD, EON Broadcasting 
Tim Blackwell; Nova Network, NOVA Entertainment M
Kent Small; Nova Network, NOVA Entertainment M 

BEST TALK PRESENTER 

Stephen Cenatiempo; 2NM, Muswellbrook NSW, Grant Broadcasters NM 

BEST CURRENT AFFAIRS PRESENTER 

Stephen Cenatiempo; 2NM, Muswellbrook NSW, Grant Broadcasters NM Adam Connelly; Power FM, 

BEST SPORTS PRESENTER 

Benny Hope; B-Rock, Bathurst NSW, Bathurst Broadcasters NM 

BEST NETWORKED PROGRAM 

Drive With Mark Krivo; Mark Krivo, Super Radio Network C Alo Baker’s Workday; 
20.20 Retro Countdown; Aaron Stevens & Drew Chapman, Grant Broadcasters P Robbie & Adam’s Tim & Marty; Kate Ritchie, Tim Blackwell & Marty Sheargold, NOVA Entertainment 
Smallzy’s Surgery; Kent Small & Zach La Cava, NOVA Entertainment 

BEST NEWCOMER ON-AIR 

Cei Saunders; Snow FM, Jindabyne NSW, Capital Radio Network C 
Holly Spillane; Sea FM, Maroochydore QLD, EON Broadcasting P 

BEST NEWS PRESENTER COUNTRY & PROVINCIAL 

Stephen Cenatiempo; Power FM & 2NM, Muswellbrook NSW, Grant Broadcasters 
Rod McLeod; Gold FM, Gold Coast QLD, Southern Cross Austereo 

BEST STATION PRODUCED COMEDY SEGMENT 

4 PMs in 5 Years; Hiccup Hits – The Album; Mark Krivo, NEW FM, Newcastle NSW, Super Radio Network P

Blacktown; Ryan Fitzgerald, Michael Wipfli & Michael Snitch, Nova 96.9, Sydney NSW, NOVA 

BEST SHOW PRODUCER – ENTERTAINMENT/MUSIC 

Trent Towson; Galey & Charli Breakfast Show, Sea FM, Gold Coast QLD, Southern Cross Austereo 
Tom Whitaker; Bree & Gawndy, Sea FM, Gosford NSW, Southern Cross Austereo NM 
Lee Stamps; The Departure Lounge, K Rock, Geelong VIC, Grant Broadcasters NM Georgie Page; 

BEST MUSIC DIRECTOR 

Benny Hope; 2BS Gold & B-Rock FM, Bathurst NSW, Bathurst Broadcasters C 
Claire Humphery; Snow FM, Jindabyne NSW, Capital Radio Network C 
Murray Ryan; Sea FM, Devonport TAS, Grant Broadcasters C Dan Hill; Sea FM, Gold Coast QLD, Southern Cross Austereo P 
Trent Towson; Sea FM, Gold Coast QLD, Southern Cross Austereo P 
Simon Dawson; 102.9 Hot Tomato, Gold Coast QLD, Hot Tomato P 
Leanne Stamps; K Rock, Geelong VIC, Grant Broadcasters P 

BEST PROGRAM DIRECTOR 

Benny Hope; B-Rock FM, Bathurst NSW, Bathurst Broadcasters C 
Michael Moffett; 2CS FM 106.3 & Star FM 105.5, Coffs Harbour NSW, Southern Cross Austereo C Shayne Sinclair; Star 104.5, Gosford NSW, NOVA Entertainment P 
Mark Hyland; Bay 93.9, Geelong VIC, Grant Broadcasters P Jason Matthews; hit104.7, Canberra ACT, 

BEST ACHIEVEMENT IN PRODUCTION 

Andy Martin; Nova 91.9, Adelaide SA, NOVA Entertainment M 

BEST MUSIC SPECIAL 

Totally 80’s; Ross Turner, Hot 91.1, Sunshine Coast QLD, Grant Broadcasters P 
Eggcellent 80’s; Corey Kay, Andrew Very & Jeff Nielsen, Gold FM, Gold Coast QLD, Southern Cross Austereo P 
Smallzy Live From The Aria Awards 2015; Kent Small, Zach La Cava, Alice Worth & Brodie Green, Nova Network, NOVA Entertainment M 
Ed Sheeran Takes Over Nova; Tim Blackwell & Sophie Ainsworth, Nova Network, NOVA Entertainment M 
BEST STATION PRODUCED COMMERCIAL –Individual Home Loans – Financial Fairy Tales; Tim Berg & Sally Fleay, 4CC, Central QLD, Grant Broadcasters C 
Dutch Oven; Matt Dickson, mix94.5, Perth WA, Southern Cross Austereo M 

BEST STATION PRODUCED COMMERCIAL – CAMPAIGN 

We Don’t Do Husbands; Matt Dickson, Mix 94.5, Perth WA, Southern Cross Austereo M 

BEST STATION PROMOTION 

B-Rock’s Bi-Centennial Bride; Benny Hope, Libby Daniewska, Leilani Vakaahi & Debbie Campbell, B-Rock FM, Bathurst NSW, Bathurst Broadcasters C 
Kate, Tim and Marty’s Show From A Plane; Nathan Ryan, Klara Draper, Kate Ritchie, Tim Blackwell, Marty Sheargold, John Pearce, Mat Powell, Ben Nolan & Steve Marshell, Nova Network, NOVA Entertainment M 

BEST COMMUNITY SERVICE PROJECT 

2CC Ronald McDonald House Radio-Thon; Peter Davidson, 2CC, Canberra ACT, Capital Radio Network P