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A Sufi and a Killerpresenters » Meri Fatin
Meri Fatin
A winner in the Best Radio category of the United Nations Association of Australia Media Peace Awards in 2006, and a finalist in the same category in 2007, Meri Fatin has been mooching around community radio stations in Perth and Sydney since 1999 including a stint at RTRFM between 2000 and 2002 doing Morning Mag and Drastic on Plastic.
In her latest stint, she has been hosting the respected Morning Magazine program since 2005. She is deeply interested in the whys are wherefores of life and harbours a keen desire to “know stuff”. Her passion for human rights helped Meri win the Best Radio gong for a piece on West Papuan asylum seekers at the UN Media Peace Awards in 2006, beating some of her idols from the ABC and SBS. In 2007, along with Mag producer Matthew Perkins, she scored a finalist nomination in the same awards for the Nih Wangkiny segment on indigenous issues featured weekly on Morning Magazine.
When not grilling guests about environmental safeguards or protecting human rights, she spends her time looking after her five (yes five!) children. Hear Meri every Wednesday from 9am.
Recent Shows
- Show Name
- Date
- Morning Magazine
- Thursday 11th March
- Drastic on Plastic
- Sunday 7th March
- Morning Magazine
- Thursday 4th March
- Morning Magazine
- Thursday 25th February
- Morning Magazine
- Thursday 18th February
Stories by this Presenter
Q & A
How did you become involved (with the station and your program/s)?
I returned to Perth (my home town) from Sydney in 2000 having done a short broadcasting course at 2RRR and then spending time at Bondi FM, a tiny narrowcast station coming out of the top of the Bondi Hotel. Gathering up all my courage I called Brad Scott, the station manager, and before too long I was spending my spare time volunteering in the office and broadcasting.
How long have you been with RTRFM?
I first joined RTR in 2000, squeezing in one overnight shift and a couple of Out to Lunches before settling into the Mag chair. Went back to Sydney for a few years and returned to the Mag in July 2005.
What do you enjoy most about presenting?
Brain strain every week trying to get across the issues of the day – even though you’re asking the questions, you kind of have to know the answers too. Also the exposure to the best music Perth and the universe has to offer feeds my tragic CD addiction. I love the vibe at RTR and always look forward to being there.
Strangest experience at RTRFM?
I still think it was the old dude who came in for an interview in about 2000 who got a dry throat on air and proceeded to make very dramatic choking, dying actions until I cut the interview short. When I did, he said “You didn’t have to end it – I just needed a glass of water!” Um, hello – a callout over the airwaves to the producer perhaps?
Favourite RTRFM program/s?
Where do I start? Morning Magazine is filling a really big void in the talks spectrum at the moment – if you’re liberally minded, where else would you go to get the latest on everything?
I’m really proud of Drastic on Plastic – we have an awesome lineup of sistahs doing the show. Peter Barr is a treasure and a great asset to RTR. I love listening to Full Frequency any day of the week. I rely on the Out to Lunchers to keep me updated and inspired with new music. And I can’t forget Giant Steps – I’m totally catered for!
What do you do in real life?
Work is kind of on the backburner at the moment as I have a new baby (my brood now numbers five ranging in age from 16 to a few months) but before baby I was working as a producer at the ABC. I’m also a qualified Pilates instructor and have a really strong interest in mind and body.
