Allie MacDougall

'Spotlight' is designed to give us all inspiration and confirm that anyone can make his or her business dream or that promotion a reality...

Read on to find out all about the lovely Allie MacDougall, host of Allie's "Long Kiss Goodnight" heard weeknights on Melbourne radio station MIX 101.1 FM.

Profile

1988: Bachelor of Arts degree in hand (Media and Psychology), I applied for the new Radio Course at Swinburne University. Along with eleven others I was accepted, and on work experience was offered a start at 3CV Bendigo - essentially, an apprenticeship! Multi-tasking being a key feature of country radio, by my second year I was responsible for "Systemmation" (one of the earliest automated systems for radio) in addition to co-hosting the breakfast show.

1991: Starting at Traralgon's 3TR as weekend announcer/promotions assistant, I eventually moved on to "drive time" announcer/promotions manager.

1994: Power FM Nowra Promotions Manager.

1995: Moved to Sydney as NSW Promotions Manager for Village Roadshow home video, followed by a position as National Promotions Manager for the company's CD ROM division.

1998: Co-host of the breakfast show at NXFM in Newcastle.

The following year I came back home to Melbourne via Triple M's "Grill Team" for six months. I then spent 12 months freelancing as a commercial voiceover artist before joining the team at MIX 101.1 in January, as late night announcer on "The Long Kiss Goodnight", playing love songs and dedications!

Occupation/Title
Radio announcer "Allie's Long Kiss Goodnight"

Company/Organization
MIX 101.1 FM Melbourne. Part of the Australian Radio Network.

State
Victoria

Age
36

Where did you grow up?

I grew up in Heidelberg, Victoria. The once quiet street I grew up in is now akin to a freeway, unfortunately, but it was pretty special back then because we were just two blocks from paddocks that lead down to the Yarra river, and the unpaved roads that skirted the river flats. A dream for a kid! Horses and cattle grazing in the paddocks; snakes, foxes, amazing birds, tadpoles, rabbits, the whole bit! So, I was essentially brought up as a city kid, but with one foot in the "country".

What was your first job?

My first job was as a shop assistant at my father's Chemist in Northcote. I'm sure the sheer volume of make up samples we had to play with as kids/teens is the reason I'm largely over the stuff now!

What did you want to be when you were growing up?

Through primary school I wanted nothing more than to sing on "Young Talent Time". From about 12 I wanted to be an actor. That thought actually lasted into my HSC year, when I had thoughts of auditioning for NIDA, but I was told it was off to Uni first! Largely, it was about performing.

How did you get to where you are now?

Fate, some luck, being in the right place at the right time certainly is part of the equation. Also lots of love from family, colleagues and friends who believed in me, and finding the strength to keep knocking on doors, even when I secretly started doubting my own ability.

How many hours a week do you work?

My on air shift and preparation time is about 35 hours a week on average. In addition, I freelance through the day as a voiceover artist.

Where would you like to be in ten years?

In geographical terms, ideally, I'd probably be living rurally. Melbourne's great, but a river somewhere is calling me. I would hope to have travelled overseas in the interim, perhaps with radio as a vehicle. I'd like to continue doing voiceover work, and to have some sort of media involvement. Sometime in the next ten, I aspire to voicing a character for an animated feature film, and fronting some wacky kids' TV program.

What advice would you give to somebody embarking on their first business or aspiring to achieve extraordinary career goals?

1. I haven't read the book, but I like the title: "Feel the Fear and Do It Anyway"!
2. Knock hard enough, for long enough, and the door WILL open.

What do you class as your biggest career achievement?

Being successful in radio despite some of the damning comments I received from various "bigwigs" of the industry in the past.

What is the best piece of advice anybody has given you?

Simply to "Do everything to the best of your ability".

Fast Facts

Who living or dead would you most like to invite to dinner?

Sammy Davis Junior! (But if I can call in a collective....the entire Rat Pack!)

Name a movie that actually inspired you?

"Dead Poets Society"

Your favourite toy as a child:

To be honest, it wasn't a toy per se, but our "playclothes". An old tin trunk full of Mum's costumes from her own childhood calisthenics and ballet classes.

What are you reading at the moment?

"Girl's Night In" - a compilation of short stories by over 35 different women authors.

Which song transports you to another place when you hear it and why?

"Johnny and Mary" by Robert Palmer always takes me back to teenage days on Sorrento Backbeach...though it's hardly a favourite song, strangely.

Your favourite place in the world, and why?

I'm not widely travelled unfortunately, but thus far, my favourite place is somewhere in the Aussie Bush with a river nearby, early morning. When I sit quietly and take in the scents and sounds, it gives me an amazing feeling of calm....

What is your idea of the perfect Sunday?

A cooked brekky (and ideally, someone to cook it for me!!!!) - poached eggs, toast and percolated coffee over the newspaper, sitting in the sunshine. Then poking around at a fleamarket for interesting old stuff or housey things, and a walk or bike ride by the river. A long lunch with a good wine, followed by a therapeutic hour or two spent pottering in the garden. A hot bath (and book) before finally settling down to a good movie on the couch with my cat, Floogle, and a big pot of peppermint tea.

- Annemarie Failla