Vale Graeme ‘Macca’ McDonough, former managing director of The Campaign Palace
Many in the Australian advertising and media industry will be saddened to hear of the passing of Graeme ‘Macca’ McDonough.
Based in Melbourne, McDonough worked for George Patterson in the late Fifties and Sixties, then on to Clemenger in the mid Sixties, followed by a long stint at creative hotshop Mullins, Clarke & Ralph in the Seventies.
He then joined Channel Nine in 1977 as vice-president – programming, part of the secret team of 12 that launched World Series Cricket.
Then in 1984 he returned to an account director role at The Campaign Palace, Melbourne in its creative heyday, rising ultimately to managing director.
He retired in 1991, the year The Campaign Palace Melbourne was name CB Agency of the Year, first moving to his country place in Victoria before settling in the Barossa Valley in South Australia. Then in 2000 he came back to work, taking on a marketing consultancy role with former client Yalumba.
Says Scott Whybin, who was ECD at The Palace Melbourne during the period McDonough was there: “My partner at The Palace. He was my mate. They broke the mould. Love you Macca. Hopefully, God will enjoy a cheeky Barossa shiraz with you. Rest my friend, you lived a lot of lives. Love you.”
There are several other tributes on Facebook from former colleagues at The Palace including ECD Ron Mather and senior creatives Bruce Baldwin, Andrew North and Michael Syme.
Says Mather: “That’s very very sad. I have many fond memories of Macca. He was a one off. RIP M.”
Says Baldwin: “Sad news. Such a good bloke.”
Says Syme: “A good old-fashioned ad guy who taught me a lot when I was much younger and thinner.”
Says North: “You were one in a million, Macca. The world will be a much less funny place without you.“
Read a great story about Graeme from Barossa Living magazine, written in 2010:
11 Comments
Learned his craft at MCR
Polished it at The Palace
Terrific suit and lovely man
AND ….
Of course he love his wine
and was celebrated by his client Yalumba by having their 1989 Signature cab sav/shiraz named after him.
Cheers Graeme
Funny, decent, reliable, trustworthy and smart.
There was none better. RIP Macca.
My partner at The Palace. He was my mate . They broke the mould. Love you Macca. Hopefully, God will enjoy a cheeky Barossa shiraz with you. Rest my friend, you lived a lot of lives. Love you. Scottx.
Sad news for everyone who knew him.
He introduced me to Advertising.
RIP Graeme. X
When roaming the hallways of The Palace as a kid after school, Macca’s office was always the place I wanted to visit most: he was so kind, always generous, and just the funnest & funiest man in my eyes. Will never forget him & no doubt will be greatly missed. RIP Macca. x
Unforgettable. Those of us who got to work with him were so very lucky. ‘Kissed on the head’, as he’d say. Love you Macca. x
No amount of saying how great he was could ever do Macca justice, at work or play, but you had to be there him for the full experience. Heaven’s looking a lot of fun with Macca and Devo there with John Turnbull.
He treated everybody the same. Didn’t matter if you were the client or the cleaner. A genuine guy, through and through.
Very fond memories of Macca, such a clever marketing brain packaged up in a top bloke. Kisses from Jill and Terry.
Dear Macca, kind, funny, clever, talented, compassionate, witty, loyal, he was unique and will be missed. Thankyou Macca for your chivalry and company. Much love Vivi x