On Thursday, April 17th I shared my (very) early morning with remarkable radio presenter Dee Mason, in-studio for her Morning Breckie show at Joy 94.9 at the Joy Studio in Melbourne.

I felt truly honoured to have shared this experience, documenting and celebrating Dee’s final time behind the mic for this program (at least for a while). In time a selection of photos from this session will take their place within a broader body of photographic work I am building for Midsumma,  as part of my Queer Capturing Courage personal projects.

A voice of clarity, humour and fierce intelligence across our community airwaves, Dee is one of those rare broadcasters who not only shares stories and news but also challenges us — inviting reflection, laughter, and sometimes discomfort, all with genuine care, compassion and humility. Her ability to navigate complex, sometimes sensitive topics with grace is something I deeply admire.

In an era when social cohesion can feel increasingly fragile, skillful community provocateurs such as Dee are more vital than ever. Her ability to bring together the many threads of our diverse communities — queer, questioning, quirky — reminds us of the power of radio as both a connective force and a platform for conversation.

Watching Dee work her magic live on air — juggling audio levels, music tracks, guest interviews, on-the-fly quips, and the all-important morning coffee — was seriously impressive. She makes it look effortless, but there’s obviously so much skill and intention behind every moment she holds the mic.

Thank you for allowing me to share this with you Dee…. Your voice has helped shape Joy Radio and our mornings. We hope to hear from you again on the airwaves in the not-too-distant future.