Vale Garry Sleeman, a multi-awarded creative and one of the great characters of the ad business
UPDATED – Garry’s funeral will be held at the same place his dad was buried, The Hillside Chapel, Palmdale Lawn Cemetery & Memorial Park, Palmdale Road Palmdale, TOMORROW (Saturday) at 11.30am.
Following the formal proceedings, as per Gaz’s wishes, everyone will be invited to the very informal proceedings at his digs in Woy Woy to share stories & a longneck or 2….
For those coming from out of town, or even those just planning to get really pissed (without a designated driver), Gaz’s guests choose to stay at the Bayview Hotel Woy Woy.
A couple of Gaz’s wishes:
Quote: “I don’t want any of that black shit at my funeral!”
Politically Correct Interpretation: Gaz is being laid to rest in his favourite Hawaiian shirt, so he’d also like everyone to celebrate his colourful life with equal humour. So please, no mourning attire. Just wear something bright such as your best Hawaiian shirt. And no tissues. Strictly BYO Hanky.
Quote: “I want everyone to have a beer with me”.
Politically Correct Interpretation: Due to Palmdale being considerable distance from the nearest pub, please bring your own longneck in an esky to salute Gaz at the cemetery.
Naturally, more refreshment will be available at Woy Woy.
***
Many in the Australian ad industry will be saddened to hear of the passing of the highly talented Sydney creative Garry Sleeman, one of the great characters of the business.
Writes best friend Wayne Rowley, managing director of Hyperbole, Sydney in an email to all his many friends: “It is with a heavy heart & beer in hand that I have to inform everyone that my dear friend Gaz is no longer in any pain as he has finally gone to meet his maker. He died peacefully about an hour ago with his son and sister by his side.”
The multi-awarded Sleeman, who died aged 64, was a partner of Sleeman Whittaker Heckendorf + Potter, which was formed in the late 80s and renamed Oddfellows in the 90s.
Before that he worked at various agencies including George Patterson in the 70s under CD Bruce Jarrett, at Mojo in its Mo and Jo heyday in the early 80s and at Masius, under creative director Ian MacTavish, who remained a great friend to the end.
Sleeman, like many of his generation, was a great all-round creative, but was particularly talented as a radio writer.
Among the many awards he won, he created the hilarious AWARD Silver Pencil winning Tooheys campaign for Mojo in 1983. (See pages 128-29 of the 1983 AWARD Award Annual).
Sleeman gave a young Scott Whybin, now chairman of Whybin\TBWA Australia and NZ, his first break in advertising. Says Whybin: “In 1980, Garry pinned me against a pub wall in Newcastle and told me I was gutless if I didn’t go to Sydney to try my luck. He let me stay at his house and set up all my interviews, to eventually get my first job in Sydney with Derek Hansen. I will always owe you Gaz, and always love you. Sleep well, mate.”
Adds Rowley: “Not many people know it, but Garry was also an amazing artist. Right up until last weekend he kept working on his incredibly intricate pen and ink drawings. His sense of character in his art was even sharper than in his advertising (if that’s possible).
“A recent exhibition of his work featured a series on Central Coast Beergardens – classic Gaz observations that deserve to be in the National Gallery. RIP Gaz.”
Rowley also found a sign (see bottom image) which another recently departed legend of the industry Ian Brown put together after Sleeman left SWH+P.
Says legendary adman Jim Walpole: “Garry Sleeman was a huge talent with a big heart.
“He could tolerate fools, but not bullshit artists and unlike some pretenders, he was never ashamed of the business he was in. It was called advertising and he loved it.
“Gaz was emotional and passionate and if you did not understand and believe as he did in his latest proposal, he could not hide his dismay and desolation.
“His life and works should be celebrated today. I for one can never forget the first time I saw his brilliant ‘Hey this is our town’ for Newcastle Permanent over thirty years ago, and it remains one of our country’s truly great advertising campaigns.
“Gaz was Australian to the core – the ultimate Aussie Battler. Today you have to go far from the big cities to find the likes of him, although you can still find more than a hint of his pioneering, roguish spirit in a verse from Banjo Patterson…
The narrow ways of English folk
Are not for such as we;
They bear the long-accustomed yolk
Of staid conservancy;
But all our roads are new and strange,
And through our blood there runs
The vagabonding love of change
That drove us westward of the range
And westward of the suns.
“We love you Gaz. Rest in Peace.
50 Comments
They don’t make ’em like Gary Sleeman anymore and we’re all the poorer for it.
Sincere sympathies to Gary’s family and many friends.
RIP Gazza. Always the life of the party and a real talent. Condolences to his family.
Gary gave me my first job in advertising. He was a uniquely talented man and I’ll always be grateful for his generosity, and for his friendship.
When Gary wrote in a book about radio advertising, he advice was to, ‘Go to the pub’.
What I thought he meant, was to listen carefully to the way ordinary people speak and then write that way. And he did. But he also meant, ‘Go to the pub’.
Cheers to a talented writer with a heart of gold.
we worked and played hard together and there was no way of knowing when one started and the other ended. He wont rest in peace thats for sure. Gary will raise hell wherever he ends up.
I was a single mum with a 3 year old when I walked into “Sleemans” with a burning ambition to be a creative. Gary did everything he could to teach me and help me. Including after kindy play time with my kid so I could keep working. The songs that man could make up about a blow-up sheep! He was talented, funny and very kind. Thanks Gary. I’m sure there’s a long neck waiting for you.
Legend! Great bloke and great fun. RIP Gary
I had no idea that Gary helped so many juniors of my generation.
Like you Jen, Ian and Greidy, he gave me a chance when others wouldn’t. OK , I didn’t get paid for it, but in a few weeks he taught me more about advertising -and life- than I had learnt from anyone else up to that point.
Thanks for everything Gary. And thanks Lynchy, for finding a photo that captures the man as he would want to be remembered – taking the piss until the last.
Not many people know it, but Garry was also an amazing artist. Right up until last weekend he kept working on his incredibly intricate pen and ink drawings. His sense of character in his art was even sharper than in his advertising (if that’s possible). A recent exhibition of his work featured a series on Central Coast Beergardens – classic Gaz observations that deserve to be in the National Gallery. RIP Gaz.
Everyone has a funny Gaz story usually involving a longneck or a pub (I have many) but not everyone knows how much his ideas actually achieved. Alongside greats like Andrew Killey and Street Remley he inspired a generation to write good radio. He almost singlehandedly saved a city with his ‘Our Town’ campaign for the Newcastle Permanent. Dozens of brands. Real advertising. Real heart.
I meet Gary when i started out in Production, he was the most supportive and fun person to be around, didn’t mind a long neck either! Thanks Gary, RIP.
Here here you guys….
Garry lit up many a recording session when i first started working with Les G back in the day, and after I got over the surprise of seeing the longneck appear before midday sometimes, and got to know the guy, it was hard not to love him for the cheeky swift bungers of irreverence he threw into anything that was losing the plot. and then marvel at the raw instinct that he brought to the mission. then after a while i got to see the shape of the guy behind the ratbag you met first: as Greidy says… a sweet talented guy with a heart as big as his pisstakes and made of gold.
RIP Garry, and my condolences also to his friends and family.
Thanks for the passion and love of creative audio Gary, you taught me the art of working with the person in the street, usually found at The Town Hall Pub in South Melbourne. Many fond memories come flooding back…. RIP Gary.
Gaz would’ve loved the fact you’ve spelt his name wrong in the headline! Just like on his “Best International Radio Campaign”Clio Award sitting in front of me, Gary with one r won it in 1984 for MOJO with his groundbreaking Tooheys spots which he wrote, produced AND voiced. He was one lean, mean, fighting machine. For 16 years I was fortunate enough to be his grasshopper, and he never did ever let me take that pebble from his hand….
i colud go on but that is for another time – i will let you all know in due course when that time will be, as i am currently putting into action his last wishes, which include a big drink with all & sundry.
let me finish this rave by letting you all know he died with a smile on his dial – he asked his son Jesse for a coffee at 6.30 yesterday morning,and then aske for his favourite Highwaymen cd to be put on. Jess left the room & when he returned 5 minutes later he’d gone to join his hero Johnny Cash in that great big bar in the sky RIP GAZ – LOVED YOUR WORK DEAR! 🙂
So bloody sad to hear this. Gary was a huge mentor when I had the pleasure to work and play with him way back at McCann’s in Wellington, NZ. Thanks Gaz for being such a clever, funny, witty, caring, loving person. Whether with one beer in hand, or two, you were one of the true real people I had the pleasure to know, and learn from. Have a cool one with the big fella Gaz. Don’t forget to roll that security hanky in your fingers mate. Kev
Gaz was also something of a guide to me after we met at one of the RMB Radio Workshops many years ago. We did quite a bit of work together over the years, then drifted apart, mostly through my sloth. But I have great memories of him as a mentor and then as a mate. My condolences to all who miss him.
I shall toast him with a couple of long necks tonight.
A great loss to all that love radio and all that love advertising.
Vale Gaz
Gaz,give Brownie my regards.I’ll miss you old mate.
One of Garry’s many,many talents was his voice over work.
We had a Honda ag bike TVC shot that was perfect for Garry’s natural voice.
I asked him would he do it and he was shocked someone thought his voice worthy as he hadn’t done voice over work at that time. He had that natural tone, phrasing, perfect timing and he nailed it first take. He was not only bloody good at most things, he was modest. Rest easy mate.
I also believe Garry’s Craven Special Mild campaign created at Patts in the 60’s helped launch the career of actor Jack Thompson.
Also his work for Arnotts with the wonderful line….You wouldn’t be an Aussie you wouldn’t be true blue….etc…Helped save that brand from the Nabisco USA biscuit invasion.
I was lucky enough to work with Garry & CD Bruce Jarrett at Patts in that era and all at the agency knew Garry was a genuine unique creative talent and special person to boot.
GoodonyaGaz…Enjoy those Cold Gold KB’s
Garry proved that you don’t have to wear whites to play champion level cricket.
My first business meeting with him at 9am back in the late 80’s went from surprise, shock, nervousness to relief, respect and finally jealousy.
He wasn’t often what you expected but he was frequently just what you needed.
So brightly coloured and brightly skilled he just kept whacking it to the boundry.
Cheers Mate
In 1980, Garry Sleeman pinned me against a pub wall in Newcastle and told me I was gutless if I didn’t go to Sydney to try my luck. He let me stay at his house and set up all my interviews, to eventually get my first job in Sydney with Derek Hansen. I will always owe you Gaz, and always love you . Sleep well, mate.
This is so sad. His smile lit up a room. His singing voice always made me smile. This industry needs more people like like him. Clever, joyous and fun.
I first met Garry in the boardroom of SWH&P, he pulled out two beers from the fridge and smiled, “the long neck’s mine.” It was 10am. He was about as dinkum as can get. Brutally honest, direct and very bloody funny. Cheers, mate.
One of the brightest colours of the industry, sadly gone. Garry very generously offered to put a song together for my Dad’s special birthday. He’d never met my dad, but after only a couple of beers worth of background, he absolutely nailed Ted and his achievements in an amazing song. Such a talent, cut way too short, but he certainly did it his way. Crazy, loved people and super talented. Love to Jesse and all Gaz’s family and mates.
Garys crazy antics always made us laugh, i remember he ran away from home when he was about 12, slept in a gorilla suit under an abandoned house . he always had a funny story to tell. His artworks are amazing …a great talent .Billee and i have many tales to remember you bye. R.I P Gary
As successful as you were in advertising, your artistic talents are truly astounding. We’d all be lucky to be blessed with half of your talent. Apart from your many talents, I admire your ability to sum situations up with incredible accuracy and the fact you loved REAL people. You could spot an impostor a mile away! We will miss your sense of humor (no matter how crass at times) and we will miss you! xx
Ahhhh Gaz … the memories the memories … where to start and where to end.
So talented, caring & just downright happy. Whatever the hell was going on in your life you got through it all with a smile, a beer or two (!) and a song. Those Friday nights around the SWH&P kitchen table where special & unique and will never be forgotten. We love you Gaz and you RIP you good man. xxx
First me Garry surfing in the early 70’s even then a real one off character.
The again in the 80’s and not surprised he ended up in the ad game creating some great work.
RIP
Garry
I met Gaz about 1970. I had misunderstood a job ad in the SMH for Secretary to an Account Director; I thought it was Chartered Accountants. It was George Patterson Advertising and the Account Director was Bob Hillman. It changed my life. About day 3, I was sitting at my desk outside Bob’s office, lined up with all the other secretaries (Mad Men is absolutely exact) when I heard a loud rattling. Coming towards me was a very handsome chap riding the tea trolley like a surfboard and pushing with one leg, like a skateboarder. He rode up to my desk and said, in a voice like a sonic boom “So you’re the new girl – and you wear white stockings” (it was the Mary Quant era). He subsequently told me I was good looking but stuck up (must have been the elocution lessons from the nuns at St. Anne’s, Bondi Beach). He was a despatch boy and I was terrified of him. He came every day on the trolley for several years. We got on like a house on fire, in a ‘I can be more sarcastic than you’ kinda way and I now saw him as some kind of god. We went on our different advertising paths (I had been discovered, in several ways, by a man named Ross Quinlivan and made a copywriter; he bought me from Bob Hillman for a $10 Opera House Lottery ticket – a story Garry always loved). Gaz and I saw each other many hundreds of times over many decades – sometimes at industry functions but mostly in advertising pubs on both sides of the Bridge. He never changed, for which the world should give thanks and always greeted me with “Where are your bloody white stockings?” About six weeks ago, Peter James and I went to see Gaz at his house in Woy Woy. His opening line was “Where are your white stockings?” He was ravaged by lifestyle and cancer but the light in his eyes was bright as a button and he talked about the movies and music he was going to make before he died. And he did. He had his usual props – bottle of beer, hanky and roll-your-owns on the table next to him where his oxygen mask should have been. He was surrounded by his amazing drawings, which he was still doing. We laughed a lot, he yelled a lot and we left him listening to Johnny Cash. I bought one of Gaz’s beautiful drawings from his exhibition in Sydney a few years ago; I’m so glad I did. He had more talent and talents than any one person rightly deserved. He will leave a big hole. When I next see Gaz, I will absolutely make sure I’m wearing white stockings. Hoo-roo Mr. Zoo.
What a man!
Not sure how many years ago Gary walked thru the front door of Pro-image, or was it Apocalypse at the time ( too many receiverships to remember).
He had that great sense of humour, that cheeky smile and beautiful raspy gravel voice.
He did many TVCs with us and 2 most dynamic ones that instantly come to mind are the classic “Hey this is our town” http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m7fMK1StBj4 and “Westcoast coolers” , but there were many gems.
I remember quite vividly some of the 6am starts when Gary would buzz on the Chandos St door, and there he would be with his 6 long necks, cheeky smile and the keeness to spend many hours editing.
He was a genius and he will be sorely missed by all.
He was a bit like Elvis – an innovator, not an imitator.
He is our loss and heavens gain.
Xxx
Many years ago I illustrated the Rag and Famish Hotel for an Advertising Charity Art Auction. Gaz being both charitable and thirsty was the winning bidder . I was pretty happy it was going to an appreciative home! Cheers Gaz.
I will fondly remember Gary Sleeman as a beautiful, generous bloke and one of the truly great creative talents I’ve had the privilege to work with.
I’m not sure you realised just how talented you were Gaz.
Life was one crazy party and you just let rip.
My first big gig with Gaz was Newcastle Perm “Our Town” in 1991. I was suitably nervous, shooting the next installment of what was already a legendary campaign.
I needn’t have been. All Gaz wanted was truth & heart. Simple.
That’s what drove all of his work & all of his life.
RIP Gaz, Hope you’re sittin’ in the morning sun mate.
I worked with Garry in radio in the 70 and later at SWHP.
2SM commissioned Garry to record some street interviews for a radio special called “this is our city”
What Garry returned with was trully amazing , his abilty to get to the hearts and souls of people emotions was his true strength.
With thosed interviews and subsequent work he help change the face of sydney music radio from a plastic hyped shallow shell to something that touched and moved people, that acttuall maent something.
This carried right through his advertsing work as we all know .
Garry was one of a kind and when I think of him I just want to smile and thats a pretty good legacy to leave.
Col we will miss you mate next time we have one of our many trips to woy woy we will have a long neck in the park just for you RIP
love BH ( aka Col Joy )
Garry loved music I sang some songs to him over the phone. : “Life is just a bowl of cherries” Gaz. love Anne Levy.
Gaz isn’t Ill anymore and that’s a good thing, since being crook is boring and Gaz loathed Boredom more than most.
And he didn’t go “before his time”, since he didn’t get hit by a car or fall out a window and anyway, immortality was hardly a realistic option.
But I reckon the mad bastard has cheated the grave in the way that all lives lived truly well mock death.
Every bit of him – every friendship, every kindness, every inspiration, every joke, every story will bubble along inside us always. Just think of that. Always.
Though I haven’t spoken to him for years, Gary was someone I’ll never forget.
When we first met, at the RMB Workshops, I made a passing comment that Gary was a victim and perpetrator in the same body. I came to realise that was just because he shared every last bit of his heart and soul. What a funny, amazing bastard.
Rest in peace Gaz.
An amazing man. I joined SWH&P in 1991 as an account director straight from the client side and Gaz terrified me. Eight years later as Director of Client Service he had trained me to understand the subtle and not so subtle nuances of his craft and I was forever a believer. A truly remarkeable talent and a very kind and gentle man. Gaz, you will be sorely missed.
To my best mate of 47 years, missing you mate. Thanks for our friendship and our many adventures. Catch up with you when my turn comes.
Big seas manly pete xo
I only just heard the news via email from my son Nicholas Laletin in France.
Garry told me his name was spelt with two “rs” to compensate for his lack of middle name . I had the joy and delight of being part of his life and so were my kids. What a talented Peter Pan, the tall skinny kid of the block. Crazy happy times in Rozelle and falling off a stool most Friday nights . I would scoop him up and mother him. I am so pleased that we met up two years ago and had a good laugh
I will iron your hankies in heaven where you can sing to me once more. We sure had fun xxxxx
love Barbie xxx p.s Billie so sorry
From “The Warrior Song”. Of King Gezar
The seeming opposition between life and death is now cut through, do not thrash or lunge or flee.
there is no longer a container or anything to be contained. All is resolved in dazzling, measureless freedom.
NO resting in peace for my brother, no doubt he will be orchestrating some new project,with fresh talent to help him.
Garry and I had lots of laughs (and fights)over the past six months,and I wouldn’t have missed it for the world.So many memories.
From one ‘t’ Whitaker re: two ‘r’ Garry.
Many people have asked me what I consider was Garry’s greatest achievement other than suffering me as his partner for 20 years. Was it the multi multi award winning radio campaigns for Cold Gold KB, Tooheys, Norman Ross, Landcom and others, the press campaign for Brewers or the breakthrough ‘Moon River’ campaign for Toyota? – a campaign which I still don’t understand but which every major columnist and commentator in Australia applauded. All of these were highlights in a long career. But the best slipped by unnoticed (except where it counts). It was the ‘no budget’ campaign for the ‘International Year of the Disabled’ where Garry attended countless workshops helping the disabled express themselves.
But in terms of outstanding commercial success Sleeman’s campaign for the Newcastle Permanent Building Society from 1978 to 1995 was world class. With the exception of Orson Welles no one has galvanised an entire city to sing the same tune – and for those who, at the time, put Newcastle down, note that the respected travel guide Daily Planet recently voted Newcastle in the top ten cities of the world.
A city where they still regularly and proudly play Sleeman’s original ‘Our Town’ commercial; 34 years after Sleeman first recorded the tune. This was a remarkable campaign for a remarkable client and I’m certain those that wish to will relive some great memories by clicking on the NPBS archives. http://www.newcastlepermanent.com.au/tabid/476/Default.aspx
Peter Whitaker
Thanks, Dave Gibson. We should all clip that bit and keep it.
What a huge loss. I remember Garry from many years back, he was a larrikin, loved by all for his humour. You will be sorely missed. Sympathies to the family.
Some, like me, sometimes think, “I wonder what happened to…”. I stumbled on knowing of GS’s “passing” here and just now.
Back at Patt’s (’69 – ’72) at 252 George Street, GS was remarkable and obviously memorable…(I drifted from despatch to TV production to jnr copy writer to stage exit.) To remember him…paisley suit, loping along dark panelled hallways clicking his fingers, humming some jingle and not too much of a rock star not to say “g’day” to rookies like me and certainly not afraid to take the piss out of the many stuffed shirts.
For me, his first memorable creation was a TV ad for the OTC (Overseas Telecommunications Commission), promoting overseas phone calls. The lyrics went something like “words like birds fly ‘cross the seas, bouncing off satellites like stars in the sky…” The ad was stunning. Next memorable was something I’m sure he created…”Seven is Revolting” / the 7 Revolution (For Channel 7). Next memorable was running in to him in Cape Town around 1973…he was living in a cave under a pub which he was trying to drink dry. Next memorable was him leaving Cape Town for Rio with a forwarding address being “Gary (not “rr” then) the Aussie, c/- the Barman, Copacabana Hotel.
Next and final meeting (early ’80’s) was at the Grape Escape in Blues Pt Rd…had a long chat, lots of laughs.
Remarkable, memorable bloke.
Mister Sleeman gave me my first job at deV&S, cape Town South Africa.
As a green 21 year old i was in awe of him RIP.
I met Garry in the 70’s when he was working for 2SM. His voice was unique and always recognisable. Yes I remember the Toohey’s ad but most of all I remember the soft person that he was
Garry lent—happily gave—his talent to a pro bono campaign for the Children’s Medical Research Institute. He asked what children would do if they ran the world. He connected with them so genuinely they told him and their answers were that magic mix of innocence, naivety; and deep, deep wisdom. He elevated a simple thought—Children have the answers to our problems, help us find the answer to theirs—to a high plane. It was a long time ago and I sit here wondering if I thanked him enough. Thanks, mate… never too late I hope.