VILLAGE I’m constantly in awe of our community commitment, whether it be groups or individuals, to ensure our vulnerable have a dignified voice. I treasured the opportunity to be part of Sleep Out for Soul and The Big Freeze - Fight MND. It is both humbling and empowering to be part of such community spirit and determination.
My favourite things RADIO I unearthed incredible passion hosting and producing radio programs, interacting with our community with sports commentary and interviewing luminaries such as Rosie Batty (Australian of the Year); Manuel Whitford (Friends with Dignity / Australian Charity 2018); rock greats such as Grant Walmsley; and sporting heroes Andre Hartgartner and Tae Saloumidis, to name a few.
Martine Paterson
LAKE MACQUARIE CITIZEN OF THE YEAR 2018 NOMINEE
A busy mum with, on the last count, five different school drop-offs, Martine and her cartoonist husband, Brett, love bringing up their kiddies in the area, with a real focus on beach life. You won’t remember Martine as Olympic swimming potential, and she’s now the forgotten face of Jeanswest from the 1980s. She hung up the goggles and catwalk, determined to “get a proper job”, finding early the area of vocational rehabilitation, specialising in injury management for more than 25 years now. Martine began writing a Canberra City News column in the 1990s – a Dr Phil piece before Dr Phil was Dr Phil. Some just might recall her as co-founder of Dragons Abreast, as well as a media representative for Breast Cancer Network Australia after an unfortunate brush with the disease at just 24 years old. More than likely you know Martine as a presenter on local radio FM97.3, sports commentator, a passionate community advocate, and also recognise her voice from various commercials. 70
CONNECTING I feel strongly my professional role in mental health and public profile as a radio host demands that I require of community leaders to listen, consider, collaborate and act. I relish my role in the Polly Waffle program, providing a forum for working on solutions, irrespective of political party leaning.
STORIES Everyone has a story. Not everyone believes this, so I delight in finding a story that has been lost, forgotten or discarded and empowering the owner to build or even re-build as a determined author. My favourite stories are often those told after the interview, when the mic is off.
CREATIVITY My rockin’ Dad inspired exploration of all things music, arts, sports, dance and culture all over our fantastic planet. My mission is to pass this magic to my own kiddies, acknowledging the amazing local talent and muse in our amazing region. I revel in being able to do this in my radio programs.