Kevin Dobson - Director

Having left his job in retail at exclusive "George's of Collins Street" Kevin joined Crawford's as a young trainee in 1970. After a stint in the trainee department, Kevin was given a job as a script supervisor on location filming. This meant a variety of tasks from making tea to running errands etc. Kevin then moved into the Sound Department learning about all aspects of dubbing, recording and sound editing. Kevin next moved into Film Editing, a great grounding for his eventual move into directing.

After proving to be a very talented film editor Kevin moved into the Script Department, where he became a script editor. Kevin was promoted to film directing after working with Ian Jones on Division 4. In 1976 Kevin left Crawfords and headed north to Sydney where he directed episodes of "Kings Men" for Grundys, as well as a telemovie for Robert Bruning. Kevin then returned to Crawfords for a short time as a director on a freelance basis. He moved into feature films, directing the successful features, "Mango Tree" and "Squizzy Taylor".

Kevin decided to try his luck in the USA and moved to LA in 1989. He now lives with his family in Santa Monica. Kevin has since directed, among other projects, the features "Golddigger (The Secret of Bear Mountain)" and "The Virgin of Juarez". He has also directed telemovies such as "Miracle of the Wilderness" for Turner Television, "Shades of Grey" and "Casey's Gift" for NBC and "Surviving the Savage Sea" for ABC.

Kevin's website

Helen Rolland - Casting / Theatrical Agent

Helen worked for Mobil Oil as assistant secretary to the Chairman before undertaking Temporary Secretarial work. This eventually led her in 1965 to a full time position at Crawfords as a Production Co-ordinator under Marjorie Keen on the spy series “Hunter”. She eventually took over as Chief Co-Ordinator, working on “Homicide”, “Division 4” and “Matlock Police”.

In 1970 Helen left Crawfords and went to live and work in Sydney. There she worked for Eric Porter Productions as a Director's Assistant before moving over to Actor / Producer Robert Bruning's company, Gemini Productions, working on “The Godfathers” tv series as well as “Spoiler”.

Helen then left to travel overseas, which she did for five years, working in Public Relations for the Hong Kong based company, Eric White Associates. She then headed for London where she worked as Executive Assistant to the Chairman at Shani Fashion Industries. It was there in 1977 that Helen received a phone call from Crawfords asking if she'd like to return to the company and take over the Casting Department.

As Casting Director from 1977 until she moved back to Sydney in late 1980, Helen was responsible for shows such as “The Sullivans”, “Young Ramsay”, “Cop Shop” and “Skyways”. In Sydney, Helen set up her own company, “HR Casting” until 1984 when she joined Anthony A. Williams Management, representing Actors, Writers and Directors. In 2000, Helen set up a new company, “Rolland Management”, a boutique Theatrical Agency representing Actors and Directors.

Tom Hegarty - Scriptwriter / Editor / Producer

Tom was a travelling salesman for Lever Brothers in Queensland when he started writing stories at night. With an interest in pursuing writing full time, he and then wife Coyla moved to the UK. There Tom wrote radio plays, which he sold to the BBC. During a trip home for the birth of their second child Tom sent some of his writing to Crawfords to see if they might be interested in his work. In December 1967 Hector called, offering him a 3 week trial. Tom wrote an episode of Hunter and as a result, joined the company as a staff writer in January 1968.

After initially writing for “Hunter”, Tom then went on to “Homicide”, writing about 22 episodes, including "Initiation", the first all colour “Homicide”. Tom also wrote scripts for “Division 4” and “Matlock Police”. Along with Ian Jones, he created the very successful serial “The Box”, which he also produced. Tom left Crawfords to adapt the highly acclaimed “Power Without Glory” and to write “The Box” feature film. He went back on staff at Crawfords and wrote for “Bluey”, eventually taking on the role as Producer. He wrote episodes of “Young Ramsay” and developed “The Flying Doctors”.

Tom left Crawfords once again to take up the post of Head of the Writing Workshop at the AFTRS in Sydney. He then headed back to Melbourne, writing for mini series such as “Against the Wind”, “A Town Like Alice”, “Eureka Stockade”, and “Sword of Honour”, and the Henry Crawford/Disney Channel series “Five Mile Creek”. Other projects Tom has worked on as Writer, Script Editor, or Story Editor include “The Lighthorsemen”, “E Street”, “Snowy”, “Halifax f.p.”, “The Man From Snowy River”, “All Saints”, “Blue Heelers” and “Stingers”. Tom was Executive Story Editor on the US series “Ponderosa”. He also spent time at the AFC as Director of Scripts. These days Tom still does some script editing and advising on scripts - when he's not writing a tell-all memoir.

Vicki Popplewell - Casting / DA / Producer

Vicki was working in Sydney for WEA Records as a Press Officer before moving to a secretarial position with a subsidiary company of Channel Nine. She left in 1974, moved to Melbourne and after answering an ad, began working for Crawfords. Her first job in the company was as secretary to Diana Howard.
Vicki then became a Director's Assistant on the Johnny Farnham / Maurie Fields comedy series "Bobby Dazzler". A position in the casting department came up and Vicki was soon casting for "Young Ramsay" and "Cop Shop", before moving over to "Cop Shop" as a D.A.

After about 5 years at Crawfords Vicki took a position with Grundy Television working on their Melbourne production, "Prisoner" as a Director's Assistant. Vicki then went on to cast the same series. She left that organization to work with ex Crawford's colleagues, Marie Trevor and John Jacob, in a television venture they were trying to get up. Unfortunately it wasn't successful. At about that time Henry Crawford was making his mini series "Eureka Stockade" and Vicki joined the production team as Casting Director. This led her to cast another Henry Crawford series "Five Mile Creek" made as a co production with the Disney Channel.

Vicki then went freelance and in roles as either Production Co-ordinator or Producer has lined up an impressive list of credits on both feature films and television projects. Some of these projects include: "Glass Babies", "Leonski (The Brownout Murders)", "Neighbours", "The Thin Red Line","Australia's Most Wanted", "Streetfighter", "Lightning Jack", "Matrix Reloaded" and "Matrix Revolutions", "Natalie Wood - Hollywood's Last Child". One job of which Vicki is especially proud, was that of Line Producer for the "Official Olympic Film" made by the prestigious New York company, Cappy Productions.

Vicki was Production Manager on the Australian episodes of "JAG" as well as being Prod. Manager on the miniature shoots of the recent "Superman Returns" feature film. She is currently Line Producer for the 7 Network series, "All Saints".

Adrian Carr - Editor / Director

As a young man of 18 Adrian joined the mail room of the ABC in 1970. From there he became an assistant film editor, working on news and current affairs. A phone call to Crawfords led him to work as assistant film editor on the series "Ryan". That was 1973. Adrian then moved on to "Matlock Police" and was no longer an assistant editor, as his credit now read "Film Editor". He cut 3 episodes of that series before moving on to the company's flagship drama "Homicide", working on that series until it ceased production in 1976. It was then on to "Bluey" which replaced "Homicide" on the Seven Network. Whilst at Crawfords, Adrian won the Television Society's Best Drama Editing Award for his work on "The Far Country".

When "Bluey" ended production in 1977 Adrian left Crawfords to take up a film editing position with the Melbourne based production company, Film House, owned by director Fred Schepisi. With much experience editing drama, he now gained further editing expertise cutting many tv commercials, as well as the feature film, "The Man from Snowy River". Other projects Adrian worked on were many and varied, including features, "D.A.R.Y.L.", the Ian Jones / Simon Wincer blockbuster "The Lighthorsemen" and as second unit director on "Quigley Down Under". Adrian's expertise as a Film Editor was starting to take a secondary role as he pursued his first love, directing. His debut feature film as Director was "Now and Forever", starring Cheryl Ladd.

Adrian left Australia in May 1992 to try his hand in Hollywood. It was a move that provided him with an even greater variety of projects. It was back to editing in 1994 for the William Cole feature, " Unveiled". Adrian then directed the hit series "Mighty Morphin Power Rangers" followed by the live action sequences for the award winning cd-rom movie games "The Pandora Directive" and sequel, "Tex Murphy - Overseer". Other projects in the US have included the tv series "The New Adventures of Robin Hood", and features "Mindgames" & "Guarding Eddy". Other pursuits include his Photography Calendar projects, writing screenplays, and teaching at the Van Mar Academy of Motion Picture and Television Acting. He is currently in development to make a full length feature of his award winning short drama, "Blood Makes Noise".

Adrian's website

Jan Bladier - Production Supervisor / Producer

It was in 1965 while working as a secretary for two Melbourne Barristers that Jan decided the job didn't appeal to her, so she resigned. She went to an agency who lined up a job interview at a company Jan didn't really know. It was Crawfords. Having been used to the plush surrounds of the Barrister's offices, it was a bit of an eye opener when she walked along the corridor of 475 Collins Street. Natalie Raine was there walking her two poodles, the famous "Golden Arch" and Bob Pascoe in the throws of moving office. Whilst interviewing Jan, Mrs. Carter entered to collect mugs and Bob asked Jan if she would like a cup of tea. That was when Jan discovered that Mrs Carter didn't pull any punches when given a task near to her knocking off time. Despite the unusual "atmosphere" she encountered at Collins Street, Jan decided to take the job as Bob Pascoe's secretary. That was early 1966.

Jan eventually moved into production, working with Lindsay Parker. When he moved to another position Jan found herself working for Denis Ingram who had taken over the Production office. About the time of the move to Abbotsford Crawfords went into production of "The Box" feature film and Jan was given the role of co-ordinator. From there, she became Production Supervisor, working with now partner, David Lee on "Homicide", "Matlock Police", "Bluey", "The Box" series and "Ryan", among others.

In 1979 Jan and David decided to take some time off to travel around Australia. Arriving back in Melbourne after 10 months away, they only spent 2 months at home before packing up and heading to Sydney to work as Production Executives alongside ex Crawford's Producer Don Battye on the Reg Grundy cop series "Bellamy". When that series ended it was back to Melbourne, where in 1981 Jan and David set up their own independent production company, JDL Films.

The first series produced by JDL was a German co production. A tv series called "Black Boomerang". Since then, projects have included such tv series as "Five Mile Creek", "Ponderosa", miniseries "Boney" & "Tanamera". Two television documentaries for Crawfords, "The Homicide Story" (1994) and "TV's Greatest Shows.. The Crawford Story" (1995). Currently Jan, along with David, is line producing George Miller's feature "Prey" and in early production stages as a producer for Simon Wincer's feature "The Cup".

Graham Foreman - Script Editor / Producer

When Crawfords sold the concept of their new cop series "Division 4" in 1969, they found they had a shortfall of staff in the Script Editing Department. Graham Foreman had previously worked in the theatre with Henry Crawford, who recommended that Graham be flown down from Sydney for an interview. He had both directed and adapted plays and was Stage Manager for the Q Theatre in Sydney at the time. Graham was interviewed by Dorothy Crawford at her home, where she often did most of her work. Graham obviously pleased D.C. as a month or two later he was employed as Script Editor on "Homicide".

Graham was then transferred to "Matlock Police" as the Script Editor when that series began about a year later. One night, in 1971, he was tragically hit by a car. Fortunately Graham survived, but it meant that he was confined to working from home whilst he recovered. To aid in his recovery process, Graham took some time off in 1972 to travel while he recuperated. On returning to Crawfords, he discovered that there were no vacancies in the script department, so he commenced working with Bob Gardiner in Post Production. There he was responsible for the scheduling and management of sound mixes etc. for the various shows. His duties also included the role of Integration Director for "Division 4" at GTV 9. Graham then went on to become Production Manager on "Division 4" and "Matlock Police".

In 1974 to 1975 he toured Australia and New Zealand as Tour Manager for Crawford's stage production of "Doctor in the House". When the tour finished, Graham spent a little under a year as Producer on "The Box". That led him to the role of Associate Producer on "The Sullivans", working with Ian Jones and Henry Crawford. After about six months Graham started directing the show, as well as new show "Cop Shop". He then returned to script editing on the latter.

When Graham left Crawfords in 1979 he worked as a freelance Script Editor / Writer for the next fifteen years. He moved to Sydney in 1982 to work with Henry Crawford again on the first series of the Disney production "Five Mile Creek". Companies he's freelanced for include Grundys, ATN7, Network Ten, as well as becoming editor for an architecture & design magazine. His work these days is in web copy-writing and design.

Lenice Mallaby - Production Assistant

In November 1967 a young Lenice Reed was interviewed by then Crawfords General Manager Bob Pascoe. Lenice had come straight from school and business college. Bob decided to place 16 year old Lenice in with Administration Manager, Marjorie Keene as her assistant. At that stage Lenice had no idea what the company actually did. After about three weeks she was moved to drama co-ordination, training under Sophie Neef, and began working on Homicide and Division 4.

After about a year, Lenice was moved into Homicide production to replace Production Assistant Kaye Rowe, who was leaving to have a baby. Some time later Lenice was poached by HSV7 and left Crawfords to work on the Mike Walsh Tonight Show.

In 1972 Lenice rejoined Crawfords as a co-ordinator on Matlock Police and Last of the Australians, as well as training future co-ordinators. Lenice again left Crawfords, this time to join the Lee Larner agency, where she assisted in casting. At the same time she did a drama course at Crawfords under Natalie Raine. Having played a few guest roles in Crawford shows, Lenice secured the role of "Francesca" in the ABC series, Frank and Francesca.

Lenice married George Mallaby in 1975 and in 1976 they moved to London. George received a telegram from Hector Crawford in 1977, asking if he would return to Melbourne, as Crawfords wanted George to be in the cast for new drama series. That series was Cop Shop. It was during that period that Lenice gave birth to their first of two sons. Lenice at that stage was acting as George's agent. George took a year off work when he became ill and then secured a role in Prisoner. Lenice gave birth to their second son.

Lenice then ran fitness and jazzercise classes, as well as doing part time work in the local Belgrave cinema. In the early 90's George's illness worsened, and they moved to Queensland for 3 years, where Lenice got a job working with ex Crawford's Darryl Sheen as his production assistant for film and television production company, Coote Hayes. When George died in 2004 she transferred to Coote Hayes' Melbourne operation.

Lenice undertook a Real Estate Representatives course as a path to a new career. She has now become settled in her new role - new homes administration.