20th Anniversary International Year of the Family Australia
The Bridge Of Love Project
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      • Bill Chambers
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      • Garth Porter - Recording Producer
      • Ted Howard - Recording Engineer
      • Warren Lynch - Video Producer
      • Melanie Williamson - Executive Producer
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BRIDGE OF LOVE 2014 - PRODUCTION TEAM - MELANIE WILLIAMSON - EXECUTIVE PRODUCER

MELANIE WILLIAMSON - EXECUTIVE PRODUCER

Melanie Williamson was responsible for the overall management of the Bridge of Love Project in 1994, arranging for its endorsement by the Australian Government as an official endeavour of the International Year of the Family, and its adoption by an appropriate recipient charity in Barnardos Australia, before handling the complexities of obtaining sponsorships, managing logistics and production teams, sorting manufacturing and distribution with respective record labels, and organising promotional activities across the project's duration with support from volunteer media coordinators and the marketing department of Barnardos. Mel gave hundreds of interviews to promote the Bridge of Love recordings, accepting the inaugural Golden Guitar award for 'Vocal Collaboration of the Year' by the Australian Family of Country Music in January 1995. Afterwards, Mel was invited to address the United Nations Association (NSW) 'Rights of the Child Forum' at NSW Government House, where presentation of the song and video made an emotional impact on the many government leaders, academics, child-rights advocates, children's welfare providers and members of the media gathered at the event.

Returning as executive producer for 2014, Mel is liaising between Barnardos Australia, the production team, artist management, key stakeholders and media to ensure deliverables meet targets, goals are maintained and campaign messaging remains consistent.

Mel's connection with country music came mainly through her management and leading membership of the Bushwackers for their phenomenal 1990s resurgence, playing and recording with legends like Keith Urban, Slim Dusty, Lee Kernaghan, Graeme Connors and Tommy Emmanuel. Mel also founded the now-defunct Foster's Battle of the Bush Awards with sponsorship from Carlton United Breweries and judging by Slim Dusty, Joy McKean and John Williamson at sell-out events which honoured younger balladeers like Jeff Brown and Peter Denahy, furthering the preservation of Australia's unique tradition of bush music and balladry for future generations. 

Today Mel works in the corporate sector as a consultant marketing manager under the virtualised services brand of 'Ginormous'.

Asked why anyone would want to stage a massive charitable effort like 'Bridge of Love' twice, Mel quotes Lily Tomlin: "She once said: I used to wonder why somebody doesn't do something about that, then I realised I was somebody. Actually, we're all somebody. We can all do something. Changing the world for the better doesn't happen in one big sweep, but through lots of individual brush-strokes."

View Melanie Williamson's profile on LinkedIn
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The Bridge of Love Project is an official Australian awareness-raising endeavour for the 20th Anniversary International Year of the Family, an initiative of the United Nations. Australia celebrates National Families Week 15-21 May 2014. The UN-designated theme for this year's international campaign is: 'Stronger Families, Stronger Communities'.

All proceeds from the Bridge of Love Project are directed towards Barnardos Australia for their continuing work with vulnerable children and young people in our communities.
SPONSOR AN AUSSIE CHILD FOR $30/MONTH
Aiming to create 1,000+ new 'virtual foster carers' in 2014.
Individuals, businesses, community and sporting groups, schools... sponsor a child through Barnardos Australia and change one child's future for just $30/month.
‘Families, as basic units of social life, are major agents of sustainable development at all levels of society’. United Nations General Assembly resolution 47/273.
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20th Anniversary of the International Year of the Family
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Website produced and sponsored by Ginormous Marketing.
Original 'Bridge of Love' illustration by Priscilla Nielsen, used by permission.