Radio Australia Today Editorial

Hands Across the Water

25 March 2008

When we first started the Club way back in 2005, one of the first broadcasters to simulcast with us was Traxx fm in Malaysia.

To Addy and me this was something pretty exotic: speaking to two radio presenters live in Kuala Lumpur.  As the date for the first simulcast approached we were awash with anticipation of linking up with these esteemed masters of the Malaysian airwaves; these people upon whom the ears of KL hang every day; these doyens of journalism and broadcasting.

Then we did our first link-up… and what we got was Nigel the Greenman and Navsta.

 Let me start with Nige (seen here on the left with Jeremy who does all the work)

Nigel is a guy who enjoys having fun, so long as work is not involved. Nigel was the one who had the brilliant idea of having me taste my first durian live on air during my broadcast from their studio last year. (Durian, if you didn’t know is a pungent fruit that has been described in a surprisingly accurate assessment as tasting like heaven and smelling like hell). I survived that little stunt, and went on to do a broadcast from the top of the Eye on Malaysia. Another Nige brainwave. Me scared of heights too.

Then’s there’s Navsta “dude” Navvie.

Apart from having a machine-gun rapid fire delivery of the station’s phone-in number, Nav is also known for his personal dress code, and his religiousness, as seen here in the photo, which catches him mid-prayer during a broadcast. And no, the prayers didn’t help the show.

Every Thursday these dudes help lighten our loads, and we have a fabulous time giving away prizes to Traxx’s audience by getting the competititors to sing for us, recite for us, and basically get all silly.

We link up with other broadcasters too now, but our softest spot always goes to those soft guys at Traxx. Thanks Nige. Thanks Nav.