South Australia mourns Kojo's John Chataway
Adelaide-based director, producer, writer and CEO of the Kojo Group John Chataway passed away this week.
The South Australian Film Corporation board member was diagnosed with leukemia only six weeks ago, but the disease proved to be extremely aggresive.
In 1991, Chataway joined Kent Smith as partner to found Kojo Productions, first offering TVC and television production, documentaries, corporate productions, event management. Eventually, with the creation of seven divisions under the Kojo Group umbrella, the company added full production services, live broadcast, corporate communications, crewing and online products to its portfolio.
Chataway directed many TVCs, as well as corporate and educational productions – winning local, national and international awards for his work.
His corporate bio states that Chataway specialised in creative strategies, combining digital technologies through a broad range of communication channels.
Sue and I lost contact with John some years ago… We met at high school and went on to college together and kept in touch for many years after. I can remember our very first day at college… the bus went past the stop we were due to get off and so I got up and rang the bell. As the bus ground to a halt at the next stop about 15 or 20 people got up to exit.. John ran up the aisle behind me saying, ‘Mike, thank goodness you rang the bell, I wasn’t game and would’ve gone all the way into Adelaide.’
Then there were the weekends over at Marion Bay where john was renowned for his guitar playing… he specialised in the beginnings and endings of songs somehow missing out the middles. Summers were long and memorable… there was one summer we all played Swallows and Amazons sailing along the Coorong and around Hindmarsh Island… It was a trip full of laughs and ‘mis’adventure.. I promise John, not to tell anyone who wasn’t there how we all pitched our tents, in the darkness, in themiddle of the Hindmarsh Island dump.
Your friends, Mike and Sue.
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