Jules Stretch, aka Mum the Drag Queen, is a senior creative, copywriter, content creator and founder of queer advertising network Friends of Rhonda. Here, she’s penned a pithy piece on her top sessions to see at next week’s Cairns Crocodiles, presented by Pinterest!
Just to start this little article off on the wrong note… I can already tell you my least favourite choice for Cairns Crocodiles is my own choice to be dressed in full drag, giant wig, and 3 kilos of foundation, eyeliner, and glitter in the Cairns humidity. So, if you see a very tall drag queen wandering around looking like a sweaty mess, please tell me how gorgeously dry and totally put together I look. The things we do for the love of ads hey?!
Let me introduce myself, my name is Jules Stretch aka Mum the Drag Queen. I do advertising by day, drag by night, and am a frequenter of the office snack cupboard by afternoon. I am also the proud mother founder of Friends of Rhonda, a social and networking group for queer people in advertising, media, and production based in Naarm Melbourne.
What fun it is to collate this list of my top picks for this year’s Cairns Crocodiles!
Pick #1 – Weirdism: The Revolutionary Act of Not Being Normal
MAINSTAGE KEYNOTE (AUDITORIUM B & C) | DAY 1 MORNING 11:05 am – 11:45 am
The world needs weird! I guarantee you all the creative stuff you’ve ever loved has been made by a total weirdo. In a time when ideas are being homogenised and conservatism is on the rise we have to protect human weirdness more than ever*. I’m very much looking forward to hearing Amy Kean and Jackie Frank speak on the subject.
(*sorry for this slightly hack ‘unprecedented times’ style insight and yet it is true so deal with it)
Pick #2 – G-RUIN – Industry Retro & Roast
HEMINGWAY’S PRESENTED BY NEWS AUSTRALIA TRACK (HEMINGWAY’S BREWERY) | DAY 2 AFTERNOON 3:50 pm – 4:30 pm
I’m hosting this one so a bitttt of bias here, but even if I wasn’t, I’d be there with bells on. It’ll be a bit of a laugh at some classic ad-land tropes and a bit of a laugh at ourselves. We’ve assembled a fabulous group of true industry oddballs so it’s sure to be a hilarious panel, with plenty of interactive moments. If you do come along to the show after reading this article find me and whisper the secret code “B&T is the real diva” and I will give you a special prize.
Plus if you are LGBTQIA+ (or an ally who wants to buy a drag queen a drink) you can follow it up with a Friends of Rhonda Cairns Crocs Meet-Up at Hemingways straight after the panel.
See: Mum The Drag Queen To Host Friends Of Rhonda Event At Cairns Crocodiles
Pick #3 – What’s A Sheila Got To Do To Get a Beer Around Here? Invent it.
HEMINGWAY’S PRESENTED BY NEWS AUSTRALIA TRACK (HEMINGWAY’S BREWERY)| DAY 1 AFTERNOON 1:50 pm – 2:20 pm
Leah Morris, founder of Mavens, in conversation with Jane Evans about how she created James Squire beer? Count me the froth in. I’ll be the one in the audience with my jaw on the floor basking in awe of how incredible and powerful and creative women are.
Pick #4 – Creativity Needs Different Brains
REWILDING CREATIVITY TRACK (AUDITORIUM B) | DAY 3 MORNING 11:15 am – 11:50 am
Taboo’s Charlotte Adorjan, Movember/MYOB’s Josh Mann, Poppet’s Nat Taylor, and CD Michael Skarbek are truly an all-star lineup to explore neurodivergence in creativity. It’s so important to have leaders in this industry speaking up and speaking out about how neurodivergence isn’t something to overcome or endure, but that our industry should welcome and build systems around to help people excel.
Pick #5 – The Cairns Crocodiles Special Announcement
MAINSTAGE KEYNOTE (AUDITORIUM B & C) | DAY 1 MORNING 10:10 am – 11:20 am
I could go on forever honestly but I’ll end on an honourable mention to the “ The Cairns Crocodiles Special Announcement” in the morning of Day 1… I don’t know what the special announcement is but colour me intrigued.
