West Coast Radio announcer Darragh O’Dea has been recognised at the inaugural Australian Audio Awards for having one of the best local radio shows in the country.
In a gala ceremony in Sydney on Thursday, O'Dea took out Best Local Show – Small category for his drive show Darragh O’Dea in the afternoon on 917 The Wave.
The event, developed by Mumbrella, Radioinfo and RadioToday, brought together finalists and judges from across the country to celebrate the best in Australian radio and podcasting, with the awards recognising excellence across all sectors of the audio industry.
O’Dea’s afternoon program was recognised by a panel of 100 judges from the radio and podcast industry, highlighting the strength and impact of local independent broadcasting.
Speaking at the event, radioinfo’s Steve Ahern praised the significance of the awards and those recognised.
“By being here tonight, by entering, by supporting your colleagues, you’ve become part of the history and the evolution of this industry," Ahern said.
“You are now part of the history of radio, podcasting and audio in Australia. And I mean literally. Winners from tonight will have their work preserved by the National Film and Sound Archive in the vaults of Australia’s media history museum.
“Winners will also be recognised by Apple Podcasts with a highlights feature in coming weeks, and in our reports on Mumbrella, Radioinfo and RadioToday."
West Coast Radio Group Content Director Nick Morgan said the win was a major achievement not only for O’Dea, but for local radio more broadly.
“This is a fantastic achievement for Darragh and local radio," Mr Morgan said.
"It proves that local, independent radio is alive and well and punching above its weight. In a world full of streaming algorithms and networked radio, local shows like this cut through the noise and connect with people.
"I am immensely proud of Darragh and the team at West Coast Radio.”
O’Dea joined the West Coast Radio team in 2023 after relocating with his family from Ireland where he spent decades in the radio industry.
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