Liz ‘Lady Marmalade’ Bennett and Riddhi McIlwraith
It was both a sad and inspiring as fellow presenters gathered at the BayFM studios to say goodbye to a legend of the airwaves in Liz Bennett.
Liz has been with the station for nearly 25 years spinning some fabulously funky tracks each week under her DJ name ‘Lady Marmalade’. She has been jamming it up, spreading joy, and making marmalade puns cool again ever since she started at BayFM in 2004 .
The final episode of her classic show Toasted was Wednesday August 6, 12pm – 2pm and she was joined in the BayFM studios by a dozen or so loving disciples including presenter Riddhi McIlwraith and President Nell Schofield all boogying along to her tracks.
‘I always loved tuning in for some sweet selections from Lady Marmalade on a Wednesday arvo.’ said Nell. ‘Our Program Team will have to dig deep to fill her groovy shoes.”
Liz’s BayFM journey began back in the early days of The Shack. She then went on to be a Sunday Breakfast host, take over Radiothon duties, and become the undisputed queen of market stalls, signing up subscribers like a pro.
BayFM recently worked with the Byron Bay Community Centre to ensure Liz could safely access the studios which are on the first floor. The concrete stairs were proving to be a challenge to the 82 year-old and she needed dignified entry via the lift in the BBCC.
Liz’s in-studio send-off was filled with laughs, stories, and a few tears as people shared their favourite memories live to air.
Lady Marmalade’s final songs were the B52s ‘Love Shack’ in honour of her early days at BayFMs ‘Shack’, and Moon Beam Woman by Freak Power. She hung up her headphones with a shake of her booty and joined fellow presenters and fans for cake in the office.
BayFM reckons she just might have been the oldest presenter in Australia’s community radio world.