Nostalgia: The 1989 PADC Awards
With the 2024 PADC Awards around the corner Campaign Brief though it would be timely to go back in time with a bit of nostalgia – 1989 and the very first PADC Awards, held at the then named Observation City Ballroom in Scarborough with the legendary Roy and HG as presenters who delivered commentary and announced the awards from a raised sporting “commentary box” on the stage.
The PADC Committee to launch the awards in 1989 was lead by John Ilian and included Michelle Blakeley and Elizabeth Lucke (JB&B), top designer Stephen Castledine, Gordon Dawson, Richard Gale, Malcolm Maclean, Wayne Vintner, Kim Shaw and Wade Halvorson (A major contributor to the success of the awards – representing major sponsor The West Australian).
The first PADC Jury was an all-star line up – Street Remley (Street Remley Studios), Lionel Hunt (The Campaign Palace), Ken Cato (Cato Design), Simon Reynolds (OMON), Les Gock (Les Gock Music), Ron Mather (Mather Godsell), David Deneen (Filmgraphics), Rob Tomnay (The Campaign Palace), Paul Torcello (Paul Torcello Photography) and for local Perth perspective, Tom Martin and Peter Joughin.
There were two major awards given out on the night, both were sponsored by The West Australian – the PADC Medallion Award for Excellence and the PADC/West Australian Fellowship. The PADC Medallion Award was the Best of Show and the PADC/West Australian Fellowship was awarded to the individual deemed to have made the most significant contribution to a press advertisement. The prize was a $7,500 international study trip to the destination of their choice anywhere in the world.
There were 1,100 entries submitted to the first PADC Awards. Photographer Shirley Slater, whose three Golds in the Photography category were the only Golds awarded in the fourteen Press/Print judging sections, won the PADC Medallion Award for Excellence for Best of Show.
The PADC/West Australian Fellowship was won by Dick Baynham for his copywriting of the “64 die in New Year’s Day disaster”.
The leading agency in 1989 was McCann Erickson Perth with 6 Gold awards and 3 Silvers (lead by Peter Nelson and Jeff Champtaloup). JMA Ogilvy & Mather were also dominant performers with 11 Silver Awards and 16 Merits (lead by Mike Edmonds and star young team Adam Barker and Lori Canalini, who created 19 of their award winning ads). Mojo MDA picked up 7 Silver awards and 12 Merits, FCB Shorter scored 5 Silvers and 2 Merits and Baynham Advertising won 2 Silvers.
The Gold for Television went to McCann Erickson’s CSBP & Partners “Superfosphate Fertiliser” TVC. It was created by Peter Nelson and Jeff Champtaloup and directed by Carlo Burelli (see script below)
Also recognised on the night was John Morgan who was made the PADC’s first life member. For ten years Morgan was a driving force in the field of education and improvement of standards. The PADC would not exist without his valuable contribution.
The PADC 2024 Skulls Awards. Now in its 35th year, will be held on November 15th at the WA Museum Boola Bardip.
2 Comments
Couple of small corrections, if I may, please.
Gordon Dawson was voted the first Life Member in 1989.
He was given a pair of PADC Boardshorts (hand made by Peta Vinten – Wayne’s wife), and a Boogie Board.
John Morgan was vote the second Life Member in 1990. (I was club’s third, voted in 1991).
Secondly, Roy and HG appeared at the second PADC Awards in 1990, not the first in 1989.
Michelle Blakely was President in 1990.
Hi John, my memory of the late 80s is very hazy so I’m probably combining a couple of award shows together – Roy and HG were brilliant! All the above info used came from the “PADC Perthfolio 1989” 84 page award annual produced to celebrate the PADC Award winners. It’s a fine looking annual – only produced once as the cost was too great the following years. In the credits you are listed as President and the Editor of the annual and it contains your President’s Address. John Morgan’s Inaugural Life Membership announcement is also in the annual (see above). I fondly remember the boardshorts and boogie board presentation to Gordon – very funny. Without John, Gordon and you the PADC would probably not exist.