Out of the Box: Felicia Foxx, Koori Radio

Felicia Foxx is the Realist Tiddah of Sydney, balancing her role as the First Nations Queen of Oxford Street with her role as the presenter of Making Tracks, weekday afternoons on Koori Radio 93.7FM.

I’ve been with Koori Radio since way back in the day. My older cousin used to work on outside broadcasts and as part of the Young, Black & Deadly show. I’d take days off school to come into Koori Radio to broadcast, because I felt like I belonged behind the microphone and it allowed me to make my persona more visible. Every single day, I can't wait to get behind the mic! I'm also a high profile Drag Queen and the feeling I get when I’m in drag is the same when I’m behind the mic — unstoppable, empowered and proud.

Community broadcasting and Koori Radio mean so much to me as it allows us to tell our own narratives and gives us a platform for our deadly, talented mob no matter what industry they are in — it’s an opportunity for us to be the authors of our own destinies.

Everyone here at the station is so passionate and inspiring! A special shout-out to Grant Maling (former Koori Radio breakfast host) who has always been a massive inspiration. From the format of his show, his drive, the meticulous planning of content and the rich personality that he would bring to making the show his own - everything he does inspires me to want to be a better broadcaster.

Just as I've been influenced by people on Koori Radio, my role has allowed me to be an influence to the community. I love to hear back from listeners, but one response that had me in tears was from Mi-kaisha Masella the 2019 National NAIDOC Award recipient of the Youth of The Year, and also the first Indigenous scholar to make it into the Clive Davis Institute of Recorded Music at New York University. I interviewed Mi-kaisha on the eve of her New York adventure, and to hear her say she considered me to be an inspiring, young and courageous leader, not only for the Aboriginal community but also for the LGBTQIA+ community. Her comments completely blew me away.

Hosting Making Tracks and being involved with the station has opened up so many opportunities for me. I was asked to host the opening of CONVERGE; First Nations Media National Conference in 2018 because of the high energy persona I have when I’m on air. It's also instigated many other opportunities outside of community radio, like I'm currently being mentored by noted television and radio personality Yumi Stynes. Best of all, my role on Koori Radio has meant that I’ve met so many fabulous people from all different walks of life which has allowed me to be more active in the community.

Every day on Making Tracks is a highlight! When I receive calls or messages from listeners of the show, knowing I have such a passionate listener base tuning in each and every day to hear me and my music selections, it overwhelms me.

I understand how much Koori Radio means to the community. It’s our media and it matters that we are covering issues on Indigenous people from our own perspective. I personally think the community tunes in to Koori Radio to hear the truth in our peoples and most definitely to hear all the talented Aboriginal souls who are out there smashing stigmas and breaking down barriers in any industry.

This article was originally published in October CBX