NOT long returned to work from maternity leave, C91.3 announcer Chantel has used her new status as “mum” to refocus her career.
The bubbly presenter has developed a Saturday morning show over the past six months which puts the spotlight on mums and families.
It’s groundbreaking radio for the region, if not Sydney, but for Chantel it’s a chance to celebrate and share who she is and what she believes in.
“I feel like I have more substance as a mum; I was pretty bland before that,” she says with a laugh.
“My daughter, Taylor Arabella, is absolutely beautiful. (And) I’m experiencing the joy of childhood through her eyes. Everything we do is wonderful and joyful.
“I’m also more diplomatic and patient.”
Chantel transferred that new-found perspective to her career. When she came back to work she lobbied to put together a show focusing on women and families.
She says she didn’t have to work too hard to convince the C91.3 bosses. “They said ‘fantastic, go for it’,” she said. Importantly, Chantel's show has developed the same substance she has found in motherhood. It informs and inspires but it also doesn’t shy away from more confrontational issues.
Last Saturday, she treaded new ground with an Australian-first interview with American woman Heidi Damon who survived a brutal sexual assault and attempted murder.
Damon had found Chantel's website where she is named as one of the women the announcer most admires. She contacted Chantel they developed a friendship and Damon offered to come on to the show.
It was only about six years ago that Chantel clinched a receptionist job at C91.3 with “absolutely no qualifications”.
She may not have had any qualifications but she was itching to get on air and had a steely determination.
“Determination? I sure have,” she said.
