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Updated Friday 29 November 2013 08:20 NZST

From 1978 to 1986 I was a member of the Wellington Media Collective. During this period I worked at various times for Corso as a regional organiser and publications officer, Small Printing in Courtenay Place as an offset machinist, Wellington Public Library as their graphic display artist, Victoria University Students' Association as their resident printer, and for Government Publishing (a commercial offshoot of the Government Printing Office) as an art editor. I also worked as a freelance writer, editor and designer, producing political posters, brochures, advertisements and tabloid newspapers for environmental and peace groups, community organisations, student and art associations and unions.

Some of my work, mostly in collaboration with other members of the Wellington Media Collective, has been reproduced for the first time in We Will Work With You: Wellington Media Collective 1978-1998 published by Victoria University Press. While putting together a timeline for the book, I thought that there might be some interest in the other projects I had been part of during that time. So here are some of the items in my archive from the late 1970s and early 1980s.

There are still some gaps. There's a lot more Corso stuff that I haven't yet scanned, mostly brochures and tabloid newspapers, and also Corso's fundraising calendar produced in 1979 when the Government withdrew its funding. There are the books and educational material I worked on for the New Zealand Coalition for Trade and Development. And I haven't yet scratched the surface of the books I designed and produced for Government Publishing (there were a lot). Still, it's enough to illustrate the level of activity during those years in Wellington.

1979

The Mount Victoria 1960s Dance Spectacular with the Wide Mouthed Frogs
A4 flyer, produced as a community fundraiser. Jenny Morris from the Wide Mouthed Frogs had a hit single with The Crocodiles (anyone remember 'Tears'?) and later made a solo singing career for herself in Australia.


1980

Railways under Attack
Fold-out brochure, produced for National Union of Railwaymen. This was part of the Save Rail campaign that then Labour MP Richard Prebble campaigned so vociferously for, and then turned against once in office after the Labour elction victory in 1984.

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All Fired Up
Poster produced for the Teacher Trainees Association of New Zealand as part of a screenprinting workshop. My partner Sue Clement was the Wellington rep on the TTANZ Board. Sue became President of Wellington Teacher Trainees Association the following year.

Full size image not yet available.

Nuclear-free Pacific Concert featuring Hot City Cats and The Leftovers, 24 April
Foolscap flyer, produced for Wellington Peace Forum. Several members of the Wellington Media Collective played in The Leftovers, including Neil Pearce on guitar, me on harmonica, and Andrew Watson on clarinet (and spoons). The group was formed and led by the late Jim Delahunty on banjo.

Wheels June 1980
Tabloid newspaper, produced for NZ Drivers Federation. This was one of the tabloid newspapers regularly produced for Wellington-based unions by Bob Kerr. I just stepped in to help from time to time.

Ralph Nader delivers a public lecture in Wellington, 31 July
A4 flyer, produced for Coalition for Open Government. Two of the leading lights in the Coalition for Open Government were Mike Smith (later to become General Secretary of the Labour Party) and Cath Wallace. Both have remained at the forefront of campaigning for open, transparent, socially responsible and democratically accountable government in New Zealand.

There are three good reasons why we oppose the visit of the USS Truxton, September 1980
Full page advertisement in The Dominion newspaper, produced for NZ and Wellington-based unions. Part of the movement that eventually led to the declaration of a nuclear-free New Zealand.

Advance Vol. 4, No. 10, October 1980
Tabloid newspaper, produced for NZ Cleaners, Caretakers and Security Officers Federation. Another regular Bob Kerr production.

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1981

 

Union delegate card
Folded card, produced for Wellington Cleaners, Caretakers and Security Officers Union. The middle profile on the card is of Ernie Abbott, the caretaker who was killed in the bomb attack on Wellington Trades Hall in 1984.

Roadrunner April 1981
Tabloid newspaper, produced for Wellington Drivers Union. Another regular Bob Kerr production.


1982

Support the Tea Campaign
A1 screenprinted poster, produced for Christchurch-based Trade Aid to promote fair trade tea sales.

 

Borrowers Card
Laminated card, produced for Wellington Public Library. I had picked up Wellington Media Collective member Dave Kent's former job as graphic display artist with Wellington Public Library when Dave moved to the Wellington City Art Gallery. Civic Square didn't yet exist, and Mercer Street continued past the library to the waterfront. The small green lawn currently in front of the City Art Gallery is only a remnant of the park-like expanse that used to stretch between the library and the street.

Manual Vol. 2, No. 3, March 1982
Tabloid newspaper (2-fold), produced for NZ Labourers, General Workers and Related Trades Union of Workers. Fellow Wellington Media Collective member Ian Haldane had approached me to see if I wanted to take on the job of producing the folded tabloid newspaper. I ended up producing four issues.

 

Using the catalogues July 1982
A4 information sheet, produced for Wellington Public Library.

Manual Vol. 2, No. 4, August 1982
Tabloid newspaper (2-fold), produced for NZ Labourers, General Workers and Related Trades Union of Workers.

 

Borrowing materials September 1982
A4 information sheet, produced for Wellington Public Library.

 

The collections October 1982
A4 information sheet, produced for Wellington Public Library.

 

Library services October 1982
A4 information sheet, produced for Wellington Public Library.

 

Library overdue notice 1982
DL mailer, produced for Wellington Public Library. Designed as part of a rebranded set of communications for the library. Some Wellingtonians may remember receiving one or two of these in their letterboxes.

The price went up since you came in the shop 29 November – 3 December 1982
DL brochure, produced for NZ Shop Employees Union. Part of the campaign against Rob Muldoon's disastrous 1982 wage and price freeze.

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Where's our wage increase? 29 November – 3 December 1982
DL brochure, produced for NZ Shop Employees Union.

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New Zealand Railway Review November 1982
Tabloid newspaper, produced for National Union of Railwaymen.

Manual Vol. 2, No. 5, December 1982
Tabloid newspaper (2-fold), produced for NZ Labourers, General Workers and Related Trades Union of Workers.


1983

The number one priority Rally for Restoration of Teacher Trainee Allowances
Double crown poster, produced for Teacher Trainees Association of New Zealand. One of a series of posters for a rally against cuts to teacher training. My partner Sue Clement was President of Wellington Teacher Trainees Association at the time.

Two sides Rally for Restoration of Teacher Trainee Allowances
Double crown poster, produced for Teacher Trainees Association of New Zealand.

Three good reasons Rally for Restoration of Teacher Trainee Allowances
Double crown poster, produced for Teacher Trainees Association of New Zealand.

Go Rally for Restoration of Teacher Trainee Allowances
Double crown poster, produced for Teacher Trainees Association of New Zealand.

Manual Vol. 2, No. 6, May 1983
Tabloid newspaper (2-fold), produced for NZ Labourers, General Workers and Related Trades Union of Workers.

How Radioactive Waste Enters Your Food
A1 screenprinted poster, produced for Corso and published jointly with the Vanuatu Pacific Community Centre in Port Vila. I received some flak regarding my inaccurate geological depiction of the island, but the point was that underground nuclear testing was unsafe and should be stopped.

Vikas Bhai: A Corso Partner New Zealand 27 July – 17 August 1983
A3 poster, offset printed in two colours, and produced for Corso. One of the last items I produced for Corso in my position as publications officer.


1984

"Careful honey, he's anti-choice"
A2 poster produced for Women's National Abortion Action Campaign. My partner Sue Clement had already been a member of WONAAC for a number of years.

Full size image not yet available.

An invitation from Sir Robert Muldoon... RSVP 14 July 1984
A2 poster, produced for Combined State Unions, Wellington. I think Trevor Richards of HART (Halt All Racist Tours) was working as publications officer for CSU at the time.

Remember, remember the 10th of November (1981, that is) CSU Election Issues 1984
A2 poster, produced for Combined State Unions, Wellington. This was the election that brought David Lange and Roger Douglas to power in New Zealand.


1985

Free Southern Africa
A2 poster, printed 2 colours, and designed in collaboration with Dave Kent. Nelson Mandela was freed in 1990, and led negotiations with President F.W. de Klerk to abolish apartheid and establish multi-racial elections in 1994. Nelson Mandela led the ANC to victory and was elected the first black President of the newly united Republic of South Africa.

Full size image not yet available.

1986

United Nations International Year of Peace 1986
DL brochure, produced for Aotearoa Committee for UNIYP. I cringe at the casual use of Maori motifs and design taonga, but what can I say? the brochure was of its time. Murray Ball kindly donated the illustrations.

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