Hello friends, I’m Maddie and I spent a week at Eastside Fm for my work experience! Read below to get a teenagers insight in the life of Eastside, and the adventures and experience’s this community radio did for me! 

My time at Eastside Radio has been a time I won’t forget. I have been shown a side of community, experience and music that I haven’t seen before. Through out the last week I have met so many wonderful people, either it be a volunteer, presenter or a fellow work experience colleague, the family that surrounds Eastside is so unique and nothing I’ve ever experienced. I have also been very grateful to have the opportunity to be at Eastside in the week of Radiothon. Radiothon is a highlight in Eastside’s calendar and being able to take part in such a special week was really spectacular. I love the attachment music has on people and how having that connection brings people together, leading to create a even better space to bond over. Eastside is one of those spaces. People can come together from various parts of Sydney and share their similarities through jazz, soul, world or any kind of music.

Besides the electric atmosphere of Radiothon, I was given an insight on how a radio station works. Working in the studios put me in the shoes of a presenter. As a person who has always been interested in the world of multimedia, doing work experience at Eastside has broaden my knowledge in this workforce and the training has given me the opportunity to trial the life of radio presenting. Also having the opportunity to incorporate the editing skills I previously knew before this last week, was very useful when presenters wanted to edit interviews into podcasts. I found it great to dive into the radio industry with a combination of new and old skills. Being able to talk on air was another experience that I didn’t think I would’ve been able to take part in this week. Having to build that confidence was something I had to get used to, but the comfort and support by Cathy (as she convinced me to speak for every supporter who called in) helped significantly by the time the week ended.

If I could use one word to describe how I felt this week, it would be ecstatic. I will be forever grateful to have been part of the Eastside community for my week of work experience. The tips and tactics I have learnt in my time at Eastside, will be useful for the career I will be aiming to do by the time I finish high school. I will most definitely be back at Eastside as soon as I can so I can volunteer and stay part of this amazing community. I want to say a special thanks to Gemma, Tony and Cathy. I couldn’t of imagined Eastside to be so lively without them. I would also like to say thank you to all the volunteers and presenters that made me feel welcome. I can not express enough how much I have loved being at Eastside. I would most definitely recommend anyone who is thinking about volunteering or thinking of sending in your work experience forms. You will not regret it!