Vale ad legend Gawen Rudder: no one knew the history of Australian advertising better
Many in the Australian advertising industry will be saddened to hear of the passing of Gawen Rudder, who, amongst many great achievements, mentored generations of graduate trainees, following their achievements and helping those who help themselves.
Gawen spent a lifetime dedicated to the industry he loved, working with dozens of advertising greats including Phillip Adams, Ted Horton, David Mattingly, Hugh Mackay, Mo & Jo, John Bevins, Russel Howcroft and so many others.
Gawen had a passion for training in advertising, public relations and marketing communications, learning and sharing the wisdom of history and relating this to the Shock of the New. He was always searching for parallels between art and the craft of communications. He mentored generations of graduate trainees, following their achievements and helping those who help themselves.
Gawen explored all forms of creativity within and outside his previous role at The Communications Council. He launched The Knowledge Consultancy, conducting workshops and providing advice. Sharing knowledge, writing and promoting only what he believed in.
He found ways to make a difference and elevate the profession, striving always to find a balance between an insatiable work ethic and a fulfilling life outside of what most people call ‘work.’
Gawen said he was always inspired and amazed by the sea, the sky and interesting people. He loved his life, his writing (including regular, entertaining columns for Campaign Brief) and his painting.
From 1976 to 1994 Gawen was Director – Network Communications, Business Development, Group Account Director at Monahan Dayman Adams, then Mojo/MDA, Chiat/Day/Mojo; and finally at Mojo Australia.
From 1994 to 2001 he was Client Business Resource at John Bevins Advertising in Sydney.
Gawen then took on the Manager, Membership, Business Services & Advice role at Advertising Council Australia from 2001 to 2014.
In that capacity, his greatest passion was running Graduate Training, a program that many current industry leaders completed.
In 2014 Gawen started his own business, The Knowledge Consultancy.
Apart from his entertaining ~ and always educational ~ columns for CB over the years (See 4 below).
WHAT A WONDERFUL WORLD
CAN’T GET YOU OUT OF MY HEAD
WHAT IF AND IF ONLY
DAMN GOOD ADVICE (FOR PEOPLE WITH TALENT!)
Rudder was always the go-to guy when it came to the history of Australian advertising. One great example is this piece in AdNews a few years back.
Gawen’s funeral will be held at All Saints Church, Hunters Hill on Monday March 6 from 10.30am. Guests are invited to wear a splash of colours in Gawen’s honour.
6 Comments
Gawen Rudder was many things.
A teacher. An ad man. An artist. A husband. A father. A gentleman.
Always interested. Always interesting. Always changing, but always the same.
Gawen gave our industry more than he ever took.
I will miss him and am forever grateful for the friendship he blessed me with
for nearly 40 years.
Australian advertising has lost a good man.
Vale Gawen
One thing that always struck me about Gawen was that at the myriad functions we ran into each other at over the decades, he was always keen to meet new people. He didn’t just hang back with all his old mates, he would circulate and strike up conversations with the people he didn’t know. Not only was Gawen keeper of the flame with his encyclopaedic knowledge of aussie advertising history, he remained curious about the industry’s present and future. Vale.
A great ad man who ensured we invested in training across all aspects of the industry. Patient and unflappable his passion and energy will be missed.
The best of us…nobody else captured how supportive and wonderful this industry can be. RIP Gawen.
Farewell and thanks, Gawen. Even as a kid sailing your deceptively named L’escargot you were a generous and admirable skippers’ skipper.
Gawen was such a kind and supportive mentor to me. He demonstrated his belief that the world of marketing and advertising would always be better served by more diversity of people and therefore thought. Thank you for being kind and brilliant. Vale Garwen.