Born and bred in the Burdekin, Sweet FM presenter, Carol Betteridge, has been with the station for a decade now. She started her show after leaving a long-term job and has been hosting Wednesday morning country music shows ever since.
“I lived out of town about eight kilometres south of Home Hill. I lived there until I moved to town 35 years ago, where I've been ever since. Even though I’ve travelled the world, including Ireland, the UK, South Africa, New Zealand (five to six times), and I’ve travelled Australia, Home Hill is always home,” Carol announces.
“I left a job that I had been in for a while, and I was looking for something to occupy my time. So when I left the BCA, I saw Merle Scott, the former station manager here at the radio station. She recruited most of us oldies,” Carol laughs.
“Merle got me into country music because that's what she was doing. I could do her show when she wasn't available on a Wednesday but then I was also doing a Friday night show with general everydaymusic but then I got a shift job. So the Friday night went out the door.”
Carol, 60, has never married nor had children, but used to run the shoe and dress shop in Home Hill called Carol B’s before giving that up. While her current auditor role at Invicta sugar mill bears no resemblance whatsoever to her radio station presenting gig, both jobs started around the same time. As with most long term roles, it has its good days and bad days.
“I started the radio station in September of one year, and then I started auditing in July of the year after that. Some days I play songs and I'm sort of going, ‘That didn't do it for me today.’ But other days I just love it. I love those days where you feel the music” she smiles.
Having grown up in the Burdekin all her life, she recalls how vibrant the area used to be, sharing a fondness for one burger shop in particular.
“Back in the day there were so many great shops here. It had everything you could get, everything you could want. Great Lolly shops, cafes, butchers. And then there was Burger Bills. When I was a little kid, Burger Bills was the burger place in Home Hill. I could go in and order for the whole family, and Bill was so impressed because this little girl could come in and tell him the full order. I loved that place,” Carol says smiling.
While her approach to her radio show involves playing music she feels like listening to on that day, she’s also happy to takes requests from listeners. Carol also encourages others to volunteer at the radio station, emphasising the ease of presenting on radio.
“Consider volunteering because it’s such a rewarding experience. I can assure anyone that presenting on the radio is not as daunting as it might seem. I compare it to talking into a microphone at home and playing music you enjoy. I just love it,” she says excitedly.
Check out Carol’s Country Music Show on Wednesday mornings from 9am to 12pm. If you’re keen to join Carol as a presenter, contact Sweet FM on: (07) 4782-8394 or email: admin@sweetfm.com.au.
Carol Betteridge, a woman who loves country music, being a presenter, and Home Hill. Photo credit: Mark T. Rasmussen