Ian Beaton and Frank Broomhead have started a Scottish radio program on Twin Cities FM called Caledonian Connections.
Camera IconIan Beaton and Frank Broomhead have started a Scottish radio program on Twin Cities FM called Caledonian Connections. Credit: Supplied/Emma Goodwin        www.communitypix.com.au d433203

Wee bit of Scotland over the airwaves

Laura PondWanneroo Times

The pair present 89.7fm's Caledonian Connections program on Sunday mornings with Scottish music, news and events.

"Anything silly that happens in Scotland we talk about, we don't get too involved in politics or serious news, we have a look at sport and we try and involve the Scottish community as much as we can," Mr Beaton said.

"We have completely different music tastes so the first hour is more contemporary Scottish music and the second hour Frank likes to play more traditional Scottish music so it gives it a mix."

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Mr Broomhead said they had a great on- and off-air relationship.

"We feed off each other; sometimes we just get into such a pickle with the comments we make but that's part of the show and I get a lot of enjoyment out of it," he said.

Mr Beaton started Caledonian Connections 10 years ago and has been joined on air by Mr Broomhead for the past four years after they met at a Scottish function.

"The main reason for me getting started was I had met someone who had a child struggling to settle here from Scotland, so I got started on the program and I called it Caledonian Connections because we wanted to connect people," Mr Beaton said.

Despite the large number of Scottish people in Perth, both men said finding ways to connect them was difficult, which is why their show tried to publicise events and meetings.

"A lot of Scottish families and a lot of young people with Scottish roots live up in the northern suburbs and a lot of them are looking for somewhere to connect," Mr Beaton said.

�We, as a race of people, are not like most ethnic groups where (others) have all managed to build themselves clubs and work from there.

"Scots have never been able to do that for some reason and yet Scots are entrenched in Australian history."

Having both lived away from where they grew up in Scotland for several decades, Mr Beaton and Mr Broomhead said it was important for people to be interested in where they come from.

"The established Scots, people like our ages, they have fond memories of Scotland," Mr Broomhead said.

�The first generation, they�ll hear their fathers talking and they may or not tune in and as you get the watered down third or fourth generation you might lose that link unless you get that first generation.

"Then there's a chance you�ll get the next generation listening in or at least feel some connection."