A XXXX of a reunion: Lowther, Myers, Marles, Molloy + gang get together in OZ 30 years on

CB Exclusive – 30 years after the conception of Saatchi & Saatchi, London’s “Australians wouldn’t give a XXXX for anything else” campaign, its perpetrators got together last week to celebrate the iconic campaign. 15 people in London, about the same number in Sydney and the hard core all the way back to the outback, where they were shot, near Broken Hill.

Those who made it to BH included James Lowther (Copywriter and Creative Director), Richard Myers (Copywriter), John Marles (Director), Mike Molloy (Cinematographer), Graham (Grace) Walker (Production Designer ), Lyn Sanderson (Wardrobe), George Binnersley (Focus Puller), Pete Watkins and Andrew Stone (Account Directors) … plus partners.

Says Lowther: “Once there, we revisited many of the locations, where the famous commercials were shot…. ‘Sherry’ (voted 15th best ad of all time), ‘Bridge’ (voted 10th funniest of all time), ‘Sharks’, ‘Snake’, ‘Flying Doctor’, ‘Flies’ and many others. Whilst there we also endeavoured to re-enact some, using ourselves as actors…though we decided on mature reflection that the originals were probably better!

“The trip also afforded the perfect excuse to renew our liquid acquaintance with the iconic Silverton pub and its previous wonderful owner Ines McLeod, both of whom featured so much in the original 5 shoots (27 commercials).

“In the middle of the dust blown Mundi Mundi plain, we found the old house they had specially built for the ‘Lottery’ and other commercials. It has subsequently been used in numerous other feature films and commercials, but now stands magnificently empty of everything… except memories of great work, great times and great friendships.

“I suspect it will stand there, like our memories, for many many years to come.”

Pics (from top): Shooting ‘Sherry’ in 1986. Mundi Mundi House Original shows it being lowered next door to the renamed Silverton pub for its first excursion in 1986. Menindi – shows them at the lake where they shot Sharks. Mundi Mundi House where it was last week. At the Silverton Hotel: Andrew Stone, George Binnersley, Grace Walker, James Lowther, Richard Myers, John Marles, Lyn Sanderson, Mike Molloy and Pete Watkins. 

JAMES LOWTHER, ABOUT THE CAMPAIGN: 

30 years ago this year, the faint stirrings of an idea were gurgling away deep in the bowels of Saatchis.

Now , over 20 commercials and heaven knows how many posters later, the XXXX campaign is still one of the most awarded and most iconic ever.

The ‘Sherry” commercial was voted the 25th best commercial of all time. Anywhere. ‘Bridge ‘ was voted the 10th funniest of all time. Anywhere.

The posters won every award in the book

And “Australians wouldn’t give a XXXX for anything else ” has elbowed its way into the Oxford Dictionary of Quotations.

And another thing.

XXXX me, if they weren’t fun to make.

Now, if all that is not an excuse for a party, I don’t know what is.