Total Outdoor Media Rolls Out Landmark Koori Country Nameplate Initiative
Out Of Home (OOH) advertising company Total Outdoor Media has announced the roll-out of a landmark Koori Country Nameplate initiative.
Each of TOM’s large-format billboards will name and pay respects to First Nations People and the original Indigenous country in which each billboard sits.
As part of the initiative, which will become a permanent fixture on all TOM inventory from this week, each billboard will carry with it a nameplate depicting the corresponding country name of the traditional owners of the land.
According to the Aboriginal Heritage Council’s Registered Aboriginal Parties of Victoria website, there are currently 11 registered Indigenous land parties in Victoria that cover approximately 74 per cent of the landscape.
Regional outdoor media expert TOM currently owns inventory located in eight of these traditional countries, providing an opportunity to use its Billboard footprint to help acknowledge and pay respects to each individual party and their unique language, culture and people.
In order to gain support for the project, TOM reached out to the CEOs of each of the Registered Aboriginal Parties seeking their permission to respectfully acknowledge country and region, with TOM managing director Ged Hart confirming the response so far had been overwhelmingly positive.
“For the past 18 months we have been consulting with various Party CEOs and Elders in order to gain support for the initiative and ensure our Country nameplates are accurate and depict the correct traditional land owners of each region.”
“Through this consultative process we recognised how sensitive and tricky the landscape was and understand there are some country lines that overlap and are still being reviewed. We acknowledge that over time some names may need to be updated to reflect any changes that take place. It’s therefore important that we maintain an open dialogue with the land owners in order to make any amendments as these occur through the ongoing Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) process.”
“Our inventory is located in many Victorian regions like Geelong, Traralgon, Ballarat, Wangaratta, Cobram, Mildura, Sea Lake, Moe, Shepparton, Portland, Horsham, Hamilton, Orbost and Warnambool among others.”
“To me, it became hugely important to use this media platform that we have, to play some small role in acknowledging Country and respecting the First Nations people,” Hart said.
Hart said the timing of the roll-out was important, with next month marking NAIDOC week (July 4 – 11), and this year’s theme of ‘Heal Country, Heal our Nation’.
“This year’s NAIDOC theme places a huge significance on the importance of Country, so it was important for us to be ready to roll out the traditional country place names after 18 months of research and consultation with the traditional land owners.”
“If we can use our voice, no matter how small, to make a meaningful contribution to the conversation, hopefully we can, in some small way, encourage other industries and businesses to join in.”
“This is not a political statement, to me it’s about using our influence and media platform for good. My early years of travelling Australia and my experiences working in North-West Australia in the 1980s has certainly shaped my thinking towards recognising our First Nations.”
“Longer term I would love to see other outdoor media companies across Australia join the initiative and add the traditional country names to their own billboards; together we can use our inventory and respective platforms to be part of a much wider conversation.”
“I believe it’s important that business owners in Australia use their voice and influence to affect positive change in the world and community around us. For me, recognition and respect to our original land owners is the first step to having a stronger dialogue with and understanding of our First Nations people.”
“While at a personal level this was something that I have wanted to do for a long time, the initiative will also allow locals and tourists travelling around the state to have a better understanding of Country while learning about the specific traditional place names, thus encouraging others to do the same,” he said.
Latest News
Sydney Comedy Festival: Taking The City & Social Media By Storm
Sydney Comedy Festival 2024 is live and ready to rumble, showing the best of international and homegrown talent at a host of venues around town. As usual, it’s hot on the heels of its big sister, the giant that is the Melbourne International Comedy Festival, picking up some acts as they continue on their own […]
Global Marketers Descend For AANA’s RESET For Growth
The Australian Association of National Advertisers (AANA) has announced the final epic lineup of local and global marketing powerhouses for RESET for Growth 2024. Lead image: Josh Faulks, chief executive officer, AANA Back in 2000, a woman with no business experience opened her first juice bar in Adelaide. The idea was brilliantly simple: make healthy […]
Is Meta’s New AI Chatbot Too Left-Wing?
Meta's chatbot accused of being left-wing after being caught wearing a Che Guevara T-shirt & listening to Billy Bragg.
TV Ratings (23/04/2024): Why Did No One Tell Angela That Farmer Wants A Wife Is Set On A Farm?
As wonderful as this headline is, let's face it, we all know an 'Angela', don't we?
PubMatic Unveils New AI Partnership To Turn Social Posts Into Ads For Any Digital Channel
Here's some nifty tech for turning social posts into ads. Assuming said posts aren't one-star character assassinations.
Intuit Mailchimp Makes A Splash With Its First Australian Brand Campaign
Ever laugh along at a gag you didn't get so as not to appear dumb? Get ready for more feigning with this new work.
GumGum’s Rob Hall: Advertisers Can No Longer “Rely On Binary Descriptions” Of Consumers
If anyone's got their finger on adtech's pulse, it's Rob Hall. He also avoids using the good paper in the office printer
Mastercard Nabs Florencia Aimo From Marriott International
Marriott International's Florencia Aimo jumps from the hotel business to the exploitative credit card one.
Bastion Agency Appoints Cheuk Chiang As New ANZ CEO
Cheuk Chiang takes the reins over at Bastion Agency. But not the rains down in Africa.
Spotlight On Sponsors: Major Sponsorship Wins After A Disappointing Week In Sport
B&T continuing our deep dive into local sport sponsorships & that's despite not a single offer of a free ticket as yet.
Macca’s Marketing Director, Samantha McLeod On Big Mac Chant: “What Was Once Old Is Now Cool Again”
Macca's using the power of nostalgia in latest Big Mac campaign. Well, only for those who've ever eaten one sober.
World Premiere Of Midnight Oil: The Hardest Line To Open Sydney Film Festival 2024
Oil's biopic to open Sydney Film Festival. Here's hoping Molly Meldrum will take his pants down at the premiere.
Entries Are Now Open For The 2024 Brandies, IntelligenceBank’s Annual Brand Marketing Awards
The Brandies are, of course, a prestigious marketing gong and not the mystery tipple favoured by nannas everywhere.
The Fred Hollows Foundation Appoints Ardent For PR
Yes, we all like to have a joke at PR's expense. But sometimes it does important work, like this.
AI, eCommerce & Marketing Specialists Are In Increased Demand By Businesses, New Data From Fiverr Shows
Has your philosophy & anthropology degree left you with nothing but a huge HECS debt? Here's what you should've studied.
Perth’s First 3D Anamorphic Billboard Arrives Courtesy Of oOh!media
Do you love a buzzword? Now you can add anamorphic to the list as it relates to billboards, not a colleague's ears.
MasterChef Australia & Crown Resorts Launch Unique Dining Experience With ALUMNI
A pop-up restaurant staffed by MasterChef contestants! That's fine dining prices for first-year apprentice chef cuisine!
Amanda Laing Announces Resignation From Foxtel Group
Foxtel's chief commercial & content officer heads for the exits. Read nice things the bosses said about her right here.
The Lost Letters From Our Diggers: News Corp Unveils ANZAC Day Special
It's nice when brands respectfully acknowledge ANZAC Day.
Howatson+Company Acquires Akkomplice
Large indie acquires a slightly smaller indie. Much like a shark eating a tuna, just with less thrashing and blood.
Google Delays Third-Party Cookie Deprecation Again
In good news for the sale of picture library biscuit photos, Google continues to tease over the end of cookies.
Education A Low Priority For Aussies More Concerned With Cost Of Living Forethought Study Reveals
Study finds Aussies cutting back on education due to cost of living. Booze & Uber Eats sales remain largely unaffected.
“I’m Still The Same Person That I Was”: Rikki Stern Says “Fucc It” To Cancer Stereotypes
B&T always happy to promote the anti-cancer cause. Even brands that massively overdo it with the hot pink.
The Unapproved Climate Certification Allegedly Causing Mass Greenwashing
Are you left flummoxed in the canned tuna & free range eggs aisle? Just wait till this green certification gets up.
TV Ratings (22/04/2024): Fans Mock “Over The Top” Reaction To New MasterChef Judges
MasterChef returns for its 2024 season. B&T stands by putting peppercorns in Gravox & no one will be any the wiser.
Dentsu Restructure: Muddle, Harvey & Johnston Take Leadership Baton As Bass & Yurisich Exit
A large broom has swept through Dentsu's local ops this morning, taking with it some big names & the air con's cobwebs.
Industry Shares Trends Shaping The Industry This International Creators Day
B&T's asking adland creators to reveal their top trends. And it's not good news for your Jenny Kee cardigan collection.
Mable Extends HOYTS Sensory Screenings Partnership
Mable has extended its HOYTS sensory screening partnership. Vigorously defends its two-star Oppenheimer review.
Orphan Launches ‘They Need Our Help. We Need Yours’ For Children’s Cancer Institute
Anything to do with childhood cancers has B&T's 110% support. That said, we do ignore the red meat & alcohol warnings.
Smile Team Orthodontics & Keep Left Collaborate On Smile-Inducing Campaign
As parents would attest, given the cost of orthodontics you'd expect this campaign to be a lavish production indeed.
Opinion: How Video Calls Neglect Learning Diversity
Need an excuse to duck out of a video call this arvo? Show this to your boss.
DoubleVerify Achieves First-Of-Its-Kind Responsible AI Certification From TrustArc
DoubleVerify receives responsible AI certification. However, not its robotic vacuum that's been seen menacing the cat.
Smile For A Good Cause: The Social Media Campaign Giving Back To The Community
Are you known as the office Austin Powers? More for you teeth than shagability? Get snappy new fangs with this news.
Elon Musk Mocks Albo After ESafety Wins Court Injunction Against X
Albo's 2024 from hell continues - Rabbitohs in crisis, down in the polls and now feuding with world's richest man.
Real Estate Developer In Hot Water Over “Sexually Exploitative” OOH Campaign
Real estate agents again tops in the 'least trusted profession' polls, nudging used car salesmen & ad creatives.
Epsilon’s Shane Hanby: Post-Cookie Era Relies On “Teamwork” Between Brands, Marketers & Tech
This pro predicts more "teamwork" in a post-cookie era. Which spells bad news for the uncooperative or plain stubborn.