TRFM and Gippsland’s GOLD have further established themselves as the region’s radio leaders by picking up awards at the radio equivalent of the Logies.

The Content Director at the ACE Network Gippsland combo, Ryan Khay, was named Best Program Director (Provincial) at the Australian Commercial Radio Awards in Brisbane on Saturday night.

Provincial is the middle tier of Australian stations, with Ryan winning out over other finalists from major stations at Gosford, the Gold Coast and Bunbury.

The ACE Network also won an award for Best Networked Program. The rural program ‘Country Today with Libby Price’ is broadcast on Gippsland’s GOLD at 5.30am weekdays, produced and presented by former ABC Victorian Country Hour presenter Libby Price.

Wins in these highly competitive categories come after survey results last month revealed that more radio listeners from Morwell to Orbost are tuning into TRFM and Gippsland’s GOLD than any other radio combo.

The Xtra Insights Australia survey confirmed that TRFM remains a clear number one, all people 10+, with 32.4% Station Listened to Most*.  The biggest mover was Gippsland’s GOLD, gaining 4.6 points to sit on 18% Station Listened to Most, all people 10+*.

Ryan Khay was born in the old Traralgon hospital and spent his primary school years at Liddiard Road and Traralgon East before his family moved to Papua New Guinea.

After working as Program/Content Director at other major stations in Australia and abroad, Ryan returned “home” in 2017.

“This award means a lot to me as it was won for my work in my hometown, and the place where I fell in love with radio as a kid,” Ryan said.

TRFM broadcasts on 99.5FM and 99.9FM (east), while Gippsland’s GOLD can be heard on 1242AM and 98.3FM (east).

TRFM and Gippsland’s GOLD continue to dominate the region’s radio landscape with more listeners and award-winning staff and programs, as 3TR has done during its 91 years of broadcasting**.

*Xtra Insights Sale (RA1) Radio Survey 1, 2019, Station Listened To Most 10+ Mon-Sun. 

**Historical note: TRFM and Gippsland’s GOLD were borne out of the old 3TR which began broadcasting in Trafalgar in 1928 as the very first radio station outside of Melbourne. A subsequent relaunch followed in 1930. 3TR then moved to Sale in 1932, before relocating its studios to Traralgon in 1989. When a new FM licence was granted in 2002, 3TR-FM went to air while 3TR’s former AM frequency of 1242 is now home to Gippsland’s GOLD.