Chances are you’ve heard Angela Catterns even if you haven’t met her.
Her voice is rich with familiarity for anyone who’s spent time listening to Australian radio: Triple J, ABC Radio’s National Evening Show, Breakfast on 702 ABC Sydney, or commercial stations 2SM and VegaFM. She’s also voiced podcasts, pre-flight safety briefings for QANTAS, and was the voice of Sydney Olympic Park during the Olympics. Hers is still the voice that urges guests to take their seats at the Opera House.
What you may not know, is that Angela’s connection to the Northern Rivers is as enduring as her broadcast career. In fact, her start in broadcasting came at 2LM Lismore after she ventured from Sydney to the Northern Rivers in the mid-1970s, paying $10/week rent for an old house on a dairy farm at Eureka.
Since then, her career has taken her across the country and the world. She’s interviewed Prime Ministers, music royalty and everyone in-between. In 2014, Angela was awarded an AM for her services to the broadcast industry and to the community. After returning permanently to the Northern Rivers eight years ago, her career has come full circle back to Lismore, where she hosts Saturday Breakfast on ABC North Coast.
Angela’s connection to community runs deep. She is an active member of the Women’s Giving Circle and a volunteer with her beautiful dog Sailor, for the Story Dogs program in local schools.
What do you enjoy most about being part of the Women’s Giving Circle?
I’d say it’s the sense of connection and seeing the impact we’re creating together.
I must admit I joined because of Amy (Colli, Women’s Giving Circle Coordinator). I’ve known her since she was a bump in her mother’s stomach – her parents were my best friends while I was living in Eureka in the 70s, and they asked me to be her godmother. I have fabulous memories of her as a child and as a young woman, and now to watch her as a very competent professional woman bringing people together and creating positive change is a wonderful thing.
Why do you think it’s important to give where you live?
Angela and Sailor with Amy Colli from the Women’s Giving Circle
I’ve supported different causes and international projects in the past, including Habitat for Humanity. I travelled twice to Cambodia to build houses with them, but the ‘Think global, act local,’ concept seems like a wise philosophy to me.
When you give locally you can see the impact of your giving and the benefits it brings to people in the community and to the environment.
My border collie Sailor is a Story Dog – we volunteer once a week at the local primary school. Some of the children who need extra help reading come one-by-one to read to Sailor (and me). The kids love the dog, and she loves them.
Favourite way to spend a weekend in the Northern Rivers?
I’m up at 4:15 am on Saturdays to get to work, and afterwards I sort of scurry home and have a nap and not do very much else, so my weekend is really Sunday and Monday.
One of my favourite things is to watch the sunrise from my bed. I have a fabulous view of Mount Chincogan and the winter sunrises have been spectacular. I’m definitely a morning person!
I’m a regular at the Mullumbimby Continental, and at Bimbi coffee shop.
And on Monday nights I sing with Janet Swain’s Big Voice Choir which is, as she says, radically wholesome.
Read more about Angela on her website or tune into ABC North Coast’s Saturday Breakfast.
Learn more about the Women’s Giving Circle here.