WEG'S WORLD ARE PROUD TO ANNOUNCE THAT PAUL HARVEY IS NOW OUR PRINCIPLE ARTIST

PLEASE READ

Hi, I'm Paul Harvey and I am the principle artist at WEG'S WORLD.

To start at the beginning, I was born in Fitzroy and grew uo in Melbourne, Victoria, the eldest boy of seven siblings.

I decided I wanted to make a career drawing after my Prep techer called my Mum and Dad up to St. Bedes P.S, North Balwyn, to show them a terrific bird I'd drawn. I WAS HOOKED.

I am now a full time auther / illustrator / caricaturist / cartoonist working from a home studio in Richmond where I live with my wife Caroline, my boys, Sam and Tom and my daughter Billie.

I suppose I have been doing this now for 25 years. I also dabble in the history of caricature, particularly football and cricket, and recently wrote a chapter on the history of football caricaturewhich appeared in the wonderfull Geoff Slattery book. 150 years of Australian Football. I

f anyone reading this has any work that I may be able to help them identify - just contact me.

I have had work published in most newspapers and I am a contributor to a diverse range of magazines. I also have a long list of companies and agencies I do corporate and private functions.

I do quite a bit of work with the AFL and each year I am commissioned to illustrate illuminated certificates which are presented to the reigning Brownlow Medalist and inducted members of the AFL Hall of Fame.

I am also the auther of The Mighty Bunyips and The invincible Bunyips and the illustrator of the SportsKids range of AFL books and many other sport and children's related books. I,ve had a few articles written about my work and I,ve appeared on TV news bulletins, children,s and sport programes. It was after one such TV appearance that I first met WEG.

15 or so years back Channel 9 sent a crew out, to interview me for Max Walker's Wide World of Sport. While shooting some of the work on my walls the cameraman inadvertently caught a WEG illustration. Of course they showed it on the programme - hell, it was the best illustration up there. I thought I had better seek out Bill's details, call him and apologise.

I'd always been aware of WEG of course. He'd even caricatured the bull-ant, which was lovingly used by my junior football club jumper. I collected his cartoons, especially the footy ones and I would often dream about wall-papering my wall with some Fitzroy premiership posters. If we could just win one.

I called Bill and of course, he couldn't have given a stuff. Bill didn't have a competitive bone in his body. We chatted for hours about papers, pencils and people's heads. He invited me around to his place.

 We became great mates and when Bill and Geoff Bridgeman started WEG'S WORLD Bill asked if I'd like to come along for the ride, and I said yes. Bill, the great John Rogers and I became the artists of WEG'S WORLD in 2003. ( Bill and John had always been heroes of mine so to say I was flattered is an understatement ).

Bill had a beautiful black line, John the vibrant colour work and I could bridge the gap between them with black - line work, colour work and I had a computer which meant I coul also do some digital work if it were needed.

 Bill always linked my line work and called upon me to caricature the Adam Cooney Brownlow Medal poster in 2008 for him and WEG'S WORLD when unfortunately he became to ill to do it himself and he also wanted to focus on the 2008 Grand Final Poster.

Bill and I had often discussed his Premiership posters. I often ribbed him that his better drawn poster was always the losing team and never saw the light of day. Bill loved the WEG poster.

Nothing was going to stop him drawing the 2008 WEG poster. Not a dicky heart or an unyielding hospital. His doctor suggested that if Bill left his bed he wouldn't make the door. "We'll see! ' he replied and off he trotted. He had a poster to draw and drew it he did !

Sadly, the 2008 was to be his last. I have often been asked of me why I still do a Grand Final Poster with WEG'S WORLD when Mark Knight is doing one with the Herald Sun. The answer is simple. Bill wanted me to. It's as simple as that he wanted me to carry on his tradition for WEG'S WORLD. While Joan Green and Geoff Bridgeman are happy for me to continue to do a poster each year. I will.

I thought it may be poison chalice. You're on a hiding to nothing trying to fill such big shoes but Bill was desperate for his proud tradition to contiue. It will always be the WEG POSTER and I will continue the legacy as well as I can.

 In terms of style, Bill wanted to leave it up to me, however, Bill's flowing black line and cheeky irreverence will always have a place in my poster.

The Herald Sun and Mark Knight have decided to set off in another direction and I sincerely wish them my best. The Children's Hospital is a marvellous cause, and I should know - they were brilliant help to my son Tom who had rheumatic fever.

I hope Mark's brilliant posters continue to make millions for a worthy charity. Mark is a terriffic bloke ( and my favourite cartoonist ).

The continuation of  WEG'S WORLD was paramount to Bill and working with Geoff has been a joy. I love the work, I have always had a passion for sport caricature and sales will help Joan Green's needs as well, which suits me fine.

 I look forward to many exciting and varied projects over the coming years.

Cheers

Paul Harvey

p.s. I still miss Bill.