Lealah Shostak and Rasela Torise at the 2024 CBAA Awards (Ange Kent)

Congratulations to Bay FM Belly host Sista Rasela Torise, YAC Radio founder Lealah Shostak and local youth mentee, Monet Shortland, for their recent win at this year’s Community Broadcasting Association of Australia (CBAA) Awards.

Sista Rasela and Lealah appeared arm in arm to accept their trophy and certificate on stage at the Gold Coast gala in October for the awards celebrations.

Monet was only fifteen when she started co-producing the podcast trilogy Young Legends: flood stories of Main Arm thanks to mentoring from Sista Rasela and co-producer Lealah.

The powerful audio airs voices of Main Arm children telling their stories of the floods and landslides two and a half years ago and includes an original song.

The award-winning work was the result of a partnership the producers developed between Bay FM, the Byron Youth Service and Main Arm Public School with funding from the NSW Department of Communities and Justice and the Community Broadcasting Foundation.

Award-winning volunteer ‘humbled and grateful’

Rasela Torise, Lealah Shostak and Monet Shortland (PIC Mia Armitage)

‘To have this project recognised is everything that I stand for in community radio,’ Sista Rasela says, ‘for me, personally, it’s recognition for the past 21 years of volunteering and working within the sector’.

‘I feel honoured, humbled and grateful to have found the thing in life that I absolutely love and that I’m able to do it.’

The longtime volunteer says the award means ‘so much’ to her, the station and the sector, in terms of interviewing, producing and presenting community stories, ‘the ones that touch your heart’.

Bay FM emergency preparedness campaign shortlisted

Bay FM volunteers at the 2024 CBAA Awards on the Gold Coast (L-R): Pat Campbell, Mia Armitage, Ange Kent, Rasela Torise. Lealah Shostak and Nancy Jo Falcone.

Bay FM was short-listed for four awards in total, including two for the station’s emergency preparedness and information campaign co-produced by Ange Kent, Mia Armitage and Alain de Carne including work from Dione Green, Kate Payne and Karen Crick.

Mia Armitage was also shortlisted for best news and current affairs presenter.

Six of the station’s volunteers joined in celebrations at the event, which ended three days of workshops and presentations hosted by the CBAA for its annual conference.

Bay FM President Ange Kent says she feels very honoured to be part of such an ‘incredible’ community station.

Bay FM’s latest accolades continue a legacy of industry awards and shortlisted work, including station of the year in 2022.

Links to the podcast will be shared on the website home page soon.