Creative agency Meerkats has won round three of the 2021 Siren Awards, being awarded the overall win for the campaign ‘Beautiful Ningaloo’ for conservation initiative Project Ningaloo.
The campaign placed first in the campaign category and also won in the craft category for the work of sound engineer Nick Gallagher from Cue Sound.
The ad, ‘Beautiful Ningaloo – Whales’, landed in first place in the single ad category.
From creatives Matt Wilson and Luke Williams, the campaign draws attention to the advocacy work of Project Ningaloo and its dedication to protecting and preserving the Exmouth Gulf region, known as Ningaloo’s Nursery, which is home to diverse ecosystems and many species.
“We really believed in this cause and wanted to save the beautiful Ningaloo Gulf from industrialisation,” Wilson and Williams said, in a combined statement.
“We set out to let people know we needed their help to save this special place.
In a year where creative opportunities have been slim and award shows are being cancelled and delayed in droves, winning a coveted Siren in 2020 is really special.”
Three ads were highly commended in the single category: ‘Chopsticks’ and ‘Wait Time’ from DDB Sydney creatives Tom Lawrence and Samuel Raftl for Volkswagen; and ‘Siri for Road Safety’ from The Brand Agency creatives Neil Martin, Niall Stephen and Evan Murie for the Road Safety Commission.
Eardrum was highly commended in the campaign category for the work of creative Ralph van Dijk for the Commercial Radio Australia campaign ‘CRA Radio Alive 2020’.
Southern Cross Austereo was also highly commended for the M&S Offset campaign ‘True Artists’ from creatives Cameron Horn and Michael Barry.
Highly commended in the craft category were: ‘Hope’ for Distinctive Funerals from sound engineer Drew Barrett from Creative Services West; ‘Salmon Plumbing – The Fish Pun Song’ for Salmon Plumbing by sound engineers Andrew Fritsch and Tony Byrne from SCA – The Studio; and ‘Ginger Vitis & The Pearly Gates’ from sound engineer Nat Marshall from SCA South West.
The Siren Awards are run by Commercial Radio Australia to recognise outstanding radio advertising. The awards are judged across five rounds, plus a final call round.
Round 4 is now closed, Round 5 is open for entries until February 9. The 2021 Gold Siren winner will be announced in May 2021.
