Kate's back home
Saturday, 18 February 2006



BENDIGO'S very own Australian Idol has restated her thanks to friends and family as she arrived home, saying local support helped her through the biggest turning point in her life.
Kate DeAraugo was in good spirits speaking to The Advertiser after a string of media interviews.

"Bendigo is where it all started," she said.

"I grew up here, this is the first place I ever performed. It's where most of my musical influence came from.

"To have that feeling of a whole community that you grew up with getting behind you is quite a touching thing."

The 20-year-old travelled home late on Thursday night to spend time with her family.

"It was the first time in my own bed in a long time."

Yesterday, she caught up with old friends and attended a gala dinner with Bendigo Hume & Iser Braves at the Schweppes Centre last night.

Kate is still getting used to appearing on national television and hearing her voice on radio.

Her dream career in the music industry took off when she won the third Australian Idol series in Sydney last November.

Since the December release of her debut single Maybe Tonight, Kate has performed at Christmas carols and Australia Day celebrations and is the face of an anti-bullying campaign with Girlfriend magazine.

"I'm normally the one sitting on the other side of the screen - and all of a sudden you're part of a show. It's a huge change and I'm not used to it.

"I'm lucky I've got friends in the industry who help me out."

Kate and her band will perform several songs, including her new single Faded, about 2pm at the View Street party, which starts at noon.