To celebrate RSPCA Awareness Week (Oct 1 – 8), the RSPCA has launched a digitally restored version of its most famous television advertisement – Animal Walk.
From the biggest elephant to the smallest wombat, the iconic production from the RSPCA will amble back onto television screens over the coming weeks.
Created 21 years ago, Animal Walk was the first brand ad of its kind in Australia and remains one of the most recgonised advertisements ever made in this country.
The production not only introduced Australians to their favourite little bandaged wombat but it was actually responsible for coining the RSPCA’s slogan: For all creatures great and small. The wombat went on to become the RSPCA’s much-loved mascot.
Watch the Animal Walk Video
The humble postcard celebrates its 140th birthday in October 2009*, the month we publish From Sometimes Love Beth, a compendium of all things postcarderly by author and artist Beth Sometimes.
On the eve of 2008, Beth set herself a challenge to send a postcard to somebody or something every day for the next year. From her new home in Central Australia, her mostly handmade cardboard communiqués radiated throughout the country and beyond – to friends, exes, strangers, mountains, stars and just about anything she wanted to reach out and touch.
Some postcards she raced, others she designed to make posties blush, while other focus on Beth’s experiences working with indigenous Australians in the Central Desert. Each contains a piece of writing of some significance; moments in time and personal reflections that create their own poetic narrative as public and exposed as a postcard itself.
Collected are the best of the postcards and 20 challenges to inspire readers to set off on their own postal adventures (tear-out postcards are included so there’s no excuse). This is a uniquely celebratory book that explores the themes of isolation and connection, brings people together and influences by delight.
Beth Sometimes
Author and artist Beth Sometimes – pictured above – will be on a publicity tour and available for interview in Adelaide (1-5 October), Newcastle (6 October), Melbourne (7-8 October) and Sydney (9 October). She is also available to write articles on anything to do with postcards.
For more information or to arrange an interview, contact Shirley Hardy-Rix, at shirley@hardyrix.com.au or 0412 057 288.
GG: It’s really an awesome book and you should get a copy, oh and one for a friend too !
(GREAT GIFT IDEA for 09)
ISBN 978-0-9806378-0-9, RRP is $29.95.
To purchase a copy online, visit the Affirm Press website: www.affirmpress.com.au
What is NCSS?
The National Computer Science School (NCSS) is a week long summer school for students going into years 11 and 12. NCSS brings together talented young people from around Australia for an intensive course of computer programming and website development in the School of IT at the University of Sydney.
NCSS 2010 will run from Saturday 2 January to Monday 11 January, 2010 (inclusive).
NCSS has been offered in various formats since 1996, when it was initiated by the University’s Foundation for Information Technology. This makes 2010 the 15th year of the program.
NCSS is organised by academic staff, alumni and students of the School of Information Technologies. The school is completely residential, with all students staying with NCSS staff in full-board accommodation provided by The Women’s College, within the main Camperdown campus of The University of Sydney.
It’s definitely worth supporting this initiative especially if you have the skills to be a tutor. Private tutoring is a lucrative business and anyone with the skill set should truly consider it. Applications for http://www.ncss.edu.au/ are now open. They put some effort into attracting applications from girls and from students from disadvantaged backgrounds.
Pranks, hoaxes and political mischief making from across Australia!
Breakdown Press announces the publication of How To Make Trouble and Influence People! You may still have a copy from the original series of infamous zines in your toilet library, but this expanded version will set your troublemaking heart on fire.
Featuring over 300 colour photographs, interviews with some of our most loved troublemakers and of course tales of Indigenous resistance, convict revolts and escapes, picket line hi-jinks, student occupations, creative direct action, media pranks, urban interventions, squatting, blockades, banner drops, street theatre and billboard liberation, the collection reveals the vital history of creative resistance in Australia.
Written and researched by Iain McIntyre the new edition features interviews with The Chaser, Buga-Up, Kevin Buzzacott, John Safran, Pauline Pantsdown, Dave Burgess, Meredith Burgmann, Deborah Kelly, Order of Perpetual Indulgence, Stuart Highway, John Howard Ladies’ Auxiliary Fan Club, No To Pope Coalition and The Graffiti Games Organising Committee.
As McIntyre says in his introduction, “These tales and images also serve to remind us that political activity need not be a predictable and grim slog. As well-resourced as our opponents may be, they are vulnerable to the use of creativity, solidarity and humour. Indeed, these are often the only tools we have.”
For a sneak preview, check out http://howtomaketroubleandinfluencepeople.org
To purchase a copy, visit www.breakdownpress.org
Or come along to one of the launches featuring special troublemaking guests:
NEWCASTLE LAUNCH: Saturday the 3rd October at This Is Not Art Festival, The Festival Club (Mason’s) cnr King and Thorn Streets, Newcastle 4.30pm-6pm with Iain McIntyre and Dave Burgess (who painted No War on the Opera House, 2003).
MELBOURNE LAUNCH: Thursday 5th November at the Bella Union Bar, Trades Hall, Victoria and Lygon Streets 6pm-8pm with Iain McIntyre and a special guest appearance by the John Howard Ladies’ Auxiliary Fan Club.
SYDNEY LAUNCH: Saturday 5th December at The Red Rattler Theatre, 6 Faversham St Marrickville 8pm-midnight with Iain McIntyre and Dave Burgess plus music by Lee Memorial, The Kleber Claux Memorial Singers and NinetyNine.
