Ali Clarke announces radio departure
Host of Mix 102.3 Ali Clarke has announced her departure from the station after three years.
Ali Clarke this morning said she had turned down an offer to remain on Mix102.3, saying this year had reminded her how important it was to “follow your heart” and “act with integrity”.
“If I was to stay, I wouldn’t be doing that 100 per cent fully,” Clarke said.
“It’s integrity to self, integrity to what’s important to you, integrity to your value set and the values of an organisation or whatever it might be.
“That’s what it’s all about for me. But gee whiz we’ve had so much fun.”
Clarke, who saw Mix 102.3 maintain its lead of Adelaide radio in November’s radio ratings, will be leaving the station at the end of this week.
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“I’m super, super going to miss it, and I’m slightly terrified if I’m honest, because I don’t know what I’m going to do next,” she said.
In July Clarke revealed on-air that she had been diagnosed with breast cancer and has since undergone two mastectomies.
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Amid her own illness, Clarke launched the MIX 102.3 BREAST CHECK DAY, raising awareness for the importance of self-examinations and breast checks.
According to BreastScreen SA, 779 appointments for checks were made in one day following Clarke’s initial cancer announcement, second only to the number of bookings made when Kylie Minogue announced her diagnosis.
“As recently as two days ago a woman wrote to me and said ‘you saved my life, I am sitting here now and you saved my life’. The privilege that exists in this job is unbelievable,” Clarke said this morning.
“One of the biggest fears I had in making this decision is that I was terrified it would mean the end of local radio for Mix.
“But it’s with absolute relief and so much joy that Max [Burford] you’re around to stay, and local radio is around to stay because I believe that there is a huge role for local people telling local news.”
Clarke has been at Mix 102.3 for three years, with ARN chief content officer Duncan Campbell saying she had made an “extraordinary contribution” to the station.
“Her empathy, passion and talent for storytelling have brought countless memorable moments to our listeners,” he said.
“We respect Ali’s decision to move on to new opportunities and thank her for all she’s contributed over the past three years.”
