Today, at age 30, his voice is broadcast around the country.
Duran Collett, who has been a Benoni resident all his life and who currently resides in Morehill, recently moved to the morning slot on one of the country’s biggest radio stations – 5FM.
The former Benoni High School pupil moved from the station’s Fresh Drive (which he occupied as a sports presenter on weekdays, from 3pm to 7pm), to the weekday sports presenter slot on Fresh at 5 (from 5am to 8am).
This was part of the station’s “Upgrade555″ reshuffle.
”I still have to pinch myself from time to time, because my dream was to work at 5FM; that was my dream – full stop,” said Collett at his home.
This dream came about at the age of 12.
”When I was younger I wanted to be a veterinarian, but the sight of blood scared me,” he said.
”Then it just changed.
”I listened to Alex Jay, Mark Pilgrim, Jeremy Mansfield and Mark Gillman, and then the radio bug just bit me.
”For some reason – I don’t know – it’s just something I have always wanted to do.”
After matriculating from Benoni High School in 2002, he completed a one-year diploma in TV/Radio and Drama Studies, at Damelin.
He then landed a job at Talk Radio 702 as a traffic compiler.
In a matter of years, he made his way to 5FM, finally being promoted to the Fresh Drive in 2011.
Now, he cherishes every moment and is motivated because he does what he loves and gets to ”hang out with the coolest people out there”.
One of these is the renowned DJ Fresh, from whom he has learnt a lot, and continues to do so.
”I would say that you tend to get to a situation where you think you know a lot about radio, but you actually don’t,” Collett conceded.
”Fresh, to me, has mastered the art of radio in the way he conducts the show, the way he does interviews, the way he puts everything together, the way he is so chilled and relaxed – he doesn’t get flustered.
”He is a pro, he really is.
”I think I picked up a lot from him, including my style of interviewing — I learnt a lot from him.
”I’ve tried to adapt to him, not emulate or copy him, but there is a lot to learn from the way he extracts information from people.
”He could take a rock and get something out of it.”
Collett’s advice to youngsters aspiring to make it in radio is simple: do not give up.
He said strangers ask him for advice daily on social media.
”There is no quick fix,” he said.”
I would say, in my experience, it’s probably good to get some qualification behind you.
”My advice is perseverance, because I never gave up.
”If you want something bad enough, you’ll get it, and you need to be patient – Rome wasn’t built in a day; never give up, if you have to submit 100 demos, do it.
”If you have a toe in the door, you’re in.”
Collett has no plans to move out of his town of birth and is never ashamed to profess his love for Benoni, despite sometimes getting flack on air for where he lives.
”I can take it on the cheek, because I know how cool Benoni is and I know people are doing it in a joking, teasing way,” he said.
”If Benoni was so bad I don’t think I would have been here for 30 years – I think I would have moved out a long time ago.
”I think it’s the nicest place to raise a family; the people are friendly, easy going.”
Collett is engaged to Catherine Mortimer.
