Frequently Asked Questions

If a writer's street cred is based on life experience then I believe I do. I grew up in the UK, lived in Germany and Yemen, Adelaide, Bombala in the Snowy Mtns, Canberra, Adelaide and now Ballarat. I wrote 7 Guides to Canoeing the Murray River; 8 years with the Australian Rugby Union co-writing the game of Walla Rugby and promoting the game in SA, then regional LGA marketing manager and Board member for Tourism Snowy Mountains at the time of the Thredbo landslide before moving to Canberra as a senior creative with Zoo Advertising, the ACT's largest ad agency. On a return to SA I started East Street Advertising for Gerard Corporation in Adelaide, worked for Coo'ee Advertising and KWP! was communications advisor for the RDNS before moving into strategic campaign and brand management for  SA Health, SA Country Fire Service and SA State Library. Lastly I ended up speech writing and helping out with media for the City of Ballarat, a council with assets worth over $2 billion, 1100 staff and running nearly 100 community services. A career that is far from remarkable, but one that has seen me experience so much in life and mix with everyone from international sports stars, to politicians, to farmers, to dare I say it every day public servants. I have always searched for interesting opportunities and diversity in what I do and who I meet, hence why I enjoy freelancing.

The greatest reward for any writer or marketing strategist is to see their thinking and rationale get results. When co-writing the SA Pandemic Influenza Plan around 2009 for SA Health I was quite prophetic in suggesting part of the solution would be to slow transmission. I wrote 'Wash, Wipe, Cover - Don't infect another!' a campaign that is still in use and won a State Government award. With the Country Fire Service, I shifted behaviours towards bushfire safety with two State multi-media campaigns working closely with noted Adelaide agencies like Black Sheep and Nation Advertising, twice winning best Government Marketing Campaign. I also won a State award for a flood awareness campaign for the State Emergency Service. More recently at the start of COVID during lockdown I was a finalist in the State Marketing Awards for my State Library initiative  'Remember my story - COVID-19' to capture and digitise people's experience of COVID for future generations to look back on. Aside from seeing and hearing the fruits of my written advertising work over the years I have also enjoyed the publication of a number of lifestyle and outdoor articles across various state and national magazines. 

With the unusual mix of having worked in the advertising and private sector and government marketing and communications worlds, you will get a writer who is able to add considerable value by understanding the creative process as well as how to wordsmith, at the same time applying sound strategy. You will also get someone who has great integrity and is passionate about what they do and doing the best for you. Precious does not enter into my creative offer, I work collaboratively, am very considerate and inclusive and value everyone's opinion. You will get someone who values and can help with creating the best brief and who also values the importance of providing solid rationale in all they present to the client. 

Pre-COVID I think the idea of engaging a freelancer of any description was confronting for some. Many when it came to advertising wanted to know there were bricks and mortar around their contracted agency and even better if it came with good coffee and funky surrounds where the cool guys hung out. COVID changed us all, hanging out with the 'hybrids' is now the norm. Advertising has changed too. We no longer sit in break out, or board brainstorming rooms like an old Steve Vizard/Peter Moon skit. Today our campaign scrum is more often than not in Teams. So don't be scared of a freelancer, if extra cavalry is needed on a job, we can always find it, but for convenience, price point, personal service and passion there is a lot of merit in the right freelancer.

ACT Brumbies Rugby Union 

ActewAGL,

ACTTAB Sportsbet 

Canberra Hyatt

National Missing Persons Unit

Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade

ACCC

Australian Taxation Office

Lease Plan

National Museum

Hellenic Club

Credit Unions Co-operative

National Convention Centre

Raine and Horne Real Estate

Leader Real Estate

Austmark Property Developers

Centro Property Developments

1st National Real Estate

Jones Lang Lasalle

CPS Credit Union

Crowne Plaza

Old Bus Depot Markets

Snowy Hydro Southcare Helicopter service

Urban Construct

Clare Valley Tourism

The Adelaide Crows Football Club

Nippys Fruit Juice

Maersk Shipping

Mt.Lofty Spring Water

Gouger Rugs retail

Acquired Home Loans

Spring Gully Foods

Leabrook Honey

Tapestry Wines

The Works Catering

Mistral International (including; Zanussi, Black and Decker, Chief, Ringgrip, Magnavox, Rank Arena)

Custom Press

GLI – Gaming Laboratories International

Seeley International

Computer Site Solutions

Slape and Sons Sausages

Spend and Save Factory Outlets

Tungali Beef

SA Health

RDNS

SA Country Fire Service

SA State Library

City of Ballarat