A SHORT HISTORY OF WRITING POOLS

Okay... I plunged into advertising in 1989. I chose the biggest pool in Adelaide, Young & Rubicam, with a staff of around 70 and billings of over $50 million. I worked in retail on the John Martin's account (an iconic South Australian department store) worth $10 million in billings. Then I was kicked out of the pool when the recession (we had to have) hit. Johnny's disappeared, and so did I...  over to the U.K.

I taught for three years in London... too bloody cold to jump in any pools over there. Then I came back and dipped my toe into the rain-fed rock-pool of freelance writing. The trouble was; it didn't always rain.

​From there I was offered a job at Mitchell O'Neil Farrell (MOF) - they were like a back yard sized pool (but an in-ground one). I worked on a number of accounts. including Jag Kitchens, Boral Pavers, Backyard Inspirations and Navel Oranges.

Then I moved to Stokes Creative (a slightly bigger pool with a spa) and worked on such accounts as Savings & Loans (now People's Choice), Ian Berry Insurance (where I created the radio-based 'Berryman' campaign) and various Government (MAC) road safety campaigns. But when Savings & Loans got out of the water, the pool became too shallow for me to stay in.

So, it was back to the rock-pool of freelance writing, except this time it was more like an ocean pool, renewed and refilled by tides and waves. I kept my association with Stokes Creative, but also worked for THEM Advertising and formed other direct associations, including Thoroughbred Racing SA (TRSA) and Fairmont Homes. 

TRSA was a collaboration with Sarah MItchell (Sarsparilla) and Matthew Hepplewhite (Mango Chutney). Through TV, radio and print, we re-invigorated the racing brand, making it more accessible to the general public... I even wrote a "Horse Owners Guide' and a 'How To Bet Guide'.

My association with Fairmont Homes continues today, working as a writer and creative consultant on many projects and campaigns.

As the years have progressed, I have become content in my own pool - fluid in words, splashing around with ideas and  being able to meet each challenge by swimming (rather than sinking). Today, I'm more of a writer than an advertiser, immersing myself in content, and conveying the true personality of a business... but it's still about communicating.

I have never worked on a pool account.