THE Springboks have brought in their own radio station to help whip up a bit of nationalistic fervour among Perth’s sizeable South African ex-pat population.
94.7 Highveld Stereo, a commercial radio station from Johannesburg, is broadcasting its breakfast show “The Rude Awakening” from the Burswood Casino this week in the lead up to the Tri Nations rugby union test match at Subiaco on the weekend.
The outside broadcast from Perth came about after 94.7 Highveld Stereo offered to broadcast from where ever it got the biggest response … and Perth won.
“We got 126 responses from Perth so we said ok, fine, and it just so happens there’s a rugby game here on Saturday,” The Rude Awakening co-presenter Jeremy Mansfield said.
Jeremy Mansfield, Sam Cowen and Harry Siderouplous are the presenters of The Rude Awakening and the format is not dissimilar to commercial stations in Perth, including a Battle of the Sexes on-air game.
The commercial station is the largest of nine stations in the Johannesburg market, with its focus on the 25 to 45 age group.
The broadcast was publicised to South African businesses in WA and offered people the opportunity to say hello to friends and relatives back in South Africa.
94.7 Highveld Stereo also asked listeners to e-mail in the addresses of friends and relatives in Perth so they could be contacted and invited to take part as the audience for the broadcast from Monday to Friday.
“There’s a fair amount of emotion and a lot of warmth. One lady was actually getting quite passionate talking about Australia as a land of opportunity,” Mr Mansfield said.
And no doubt there’ll be a fair bit more passion at Subiaco Oval on Saturday night.
