News Release
Thursday 1 October 2009

Grim wheel spinner double found

ROTORUA 01.10.09: They’ve found their man! Luis Gea has been selected to sit on a chair alongside a spinning wheel and look grim, as part of a local initiative in a national intersection education campaign.

Around 20 people responded to a call from Rotorua District Council searching for someone resembling the enigmatic figure in the New Zealand Transport Agency's road safety television commercials.

RDC road safety coordinator, Jodie Lawson, says she was amazed at the number of people who expressed an interest in the role.

“I received so many inquiries about the position that I could hold a ‘Grim Man Idol’ competition after the campaign. Rotorua apparently has quite a few grim-looking men, however I feel we’ve found the right man for the job.”

Initially Mr Gea’s role was to sit on a chair alongside with the ‘Risk It All Here’ wheel of misfortune at the Staying Alive Expo from 15 to 18 October. But with cancellation of the expo, he will now be appearing at a variety of locations throughout the city during the week.

Ms Lawson says the opportunity to continue with the spinning wheel/grim man combination to promote an important road safety message was too good to pass up.

“The foreboding man from the ads and his spinning wheel have become very familiar to New Zealanders and have been successfully promoting a very important message - failure to give way at intersections is a serious road safety issue.

“It would be a shame not to take advantage of this creative endorsement opportunity. So keep an eye out around the city shortly for our grim man and his spinning wheel of misfortune.”

ENDS

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