November 20, 2018
Until now Atahnee Simpson has never actually lived in Cherbourg … but when she started work at the local community radio station this week, she felt like she’d come home.
Atahnee was raised and went to school in Ipswich, but she’s a proud Wakka Wakka woman.
She’s been visiting Cherbourg ever since she was a little girl and has many relatives living in the town, including her dad Neville.
While still at school, Atahnee began a traineeship at the Brisbane Indigenous Media Association (BIMA), completing a Certificate III in Media.
She then started working as a cadet journalist at the National Indigenous Radio Service at 98.9FM in West End, Brisbane.
Soon Atahnee was reading news bulletins, doing phone interviews, sourcing new stories, editing audio clips …
But all the time she was looking out for an opportunity to move to Wakka Wakka country.
So when a job became available recently at Cherbourg Radio, she jumped at the chance.
Atahnee began work at the radio station this week, and completed her first face-to-face interview on Tuesday (with Education Minister Grace Grace, who was visiting the town).
“I always wanted to move here,” Atahnee said.
“Last year, I was coming here every month. I have a feeling of being home, being on my land …”
Atahnee has been “learning the ropes” at Radio Cherbourg, sitting in with Chrissy B daily from 9:00am.
The plan is for Atahnee to host her own radio show from 10:00am, starting next week.
“It will be my first time doing live radio. Before everything has been pre-recorded,” she said.
“I’m nervous but very excited.”
