October 25, 2013
A Christmas dinner conversation has led to South Burnett children being cast for a TV advertisement that shows the importance of education.
Advertising guru John Lyons made the trip from Melbourne to test the area’s school students for a commercial he hopes will inspire parents to send their children to school every day on time.
About 70 pupils from 10 schools in Moffatdale, Murgon, Cherbourg, Wondai and Kingaroy tried out before the camera.
The ad will also feature former Murgon schoolmates Steve Renouf and Leah Purcell.
The footy star and actor went through their entire schooling together and were only too keen to help when they heard about the project.
Cherbourg Aboriginal Shire Council employee Marcus Priaulx is pulling the effort together after the idea was raised last Christmas.
“John and I were hoeing into turkey when we started talking about how important it is for all children’s future … for parents to send their children to school every day,” Marcus said.
“I told him it was my job to build an education culture so every parent did send their children to school every day and John said he’d like to help.
“I said ‘you can’ but didn’t really know what he did. I do now and we’re only too happy to bring him out of retirement to help instill the importance of education for people’s future happiness.”
John has offered his services for free and one thing has led to another.
Leah and Steve also came on board for free, as did National Indigenous Radio in West End, Brisbane, and Koori Radio 93.7FM in Redfern, Sydney, who provided a studio and sound engineers.
A small sponsorship has secured money for the production costs and airing of the ad.
Further funds are being chased so the ad can be viewed far and wide from January.
“We’re negotiating with TV stations and I’ll hunt for further sponsorships in coming weeks,” Marcus said.
“We’ll also try to make the ad go viral.
“To me, it’s vital that parents get the message they need to read to their children from the day they’re born and send them to school every day, on time, from the youngest of ages.
“I believe that would solve just about every social issue going if they did.”
Shooting of the ad will take place at the library at St Joseph’s Catholic School at Murgon on November 12 and at the Kingaroy State School library on November 13.
