Dot Woolmer of North Gosford is no “Swifty” but you would be hard pressed to find a more loyal fan.
Every Sunday for 28 years she has been listening to Mike Kennedy present the Australian Country Music Show on Coast FM 963.
And this year on March 13, Woolmer will be attending the Gosford-based radio station in person to present Kennedy with a cake to mark the 30th anniversary of his show.
“I think he is wonderful,” she said.
“He helps all the young Australian country singers coming through; well, he helps all the singers.
“He plays new artists and pioneer artists like Slim Dusty or Tex Morton.”
Woolmer never misses a show, listening in every Sunday for 28 years.
“I might bake a cake or buy one and take it to the station,” she said.
“He has a lot of fans in Gosford.”
Kennedy is not surprised by Woolmer’s kind act.
“She is one of my regular listeners and brought me cakes for my 25th and 27th anniversary,” he said.
“I have some very loyal fans, many who have lost partners.”
While Woolmer is looking forward to the special occasion, Kennedy says it will be “another day at the office” for him.
“I don’t think we will be doing anything special,” he said.
Kennedy has interviewed thousands of country singers in his time after studying speech and drama at the Australian College of Music in London, and dabbling in singing, acting, and working as a sales manager before finding a passion in radio in 1980.
He has hosted various country music radio shows and was inducted into the Broadcasters Hall of Fame in Tamworth in 2016.
Kennedy is also a long-time supporter of charities and many fundraising concerts over 40 years and is currently co-hosting the series of Australian Country Music Stars of Fame concerts to raise funds for Camp Quality.
Even though he turns 77 in April, Kennedy said he had no plans to retire.
“I don’t want to retire, what would I do?”
The Australian Country Music Show currently airs every Sunday from noon to 2pm and also streams across the world via the Coast FM website.