By Alesha Capone
Fifteen-year-old Darby is hitting the airwaves at community radio station 88.9 Wyn FM.
The year 9 student at Warringa Park School in Hoppers Crossing has joined the station’s Thursday morning breakfast show.
The program, titled Seemed Like a Good Idea at the Time, airs between 6am and 10am with co-hosts Troy Boon and Jacqui.
Darby said he emailed the station earlier this year, in the hope of getting work experience.
“I’m really into radio and broadcasting,” he said.
Mr Boon said that upon seeing Darby’s email, he invited him into the Werribee-based station for a tour – and asked him to join the show.
Mr Boon, who started in radio at the age of 13, said Darby “reminded me of me”.
Darby is not the only young voice on the radio show – Mr Boon’s 11-year-old daughter Kyra also sometimes joins them for the program.
Darby said he did not mind getting up at 5.30am in order to be at the station on time.
“I’ve really enjoyed just the whole experience of getting up early, reading the weather and general co-hosting duties,” he said.
“It has been a really good experience.”
Darby, who said he was a “big fan” of Channel 7 and sports presenter Bruce McAvaney, said he hoped to work in radio or television in the future.
“Mainly I’m into behind the scenes and production, but I’m also interested in being in front of the camera,” he said.