Gentleman wearing a hat and glasses standing in the centre with people behind him carrying a sign with the words "PRESTON MARKET"

How A Sketch Video Helped Rally a Community

Gloria Wong
Read Time: 3 mins

When you have something important to say, a sketch video is one of the most effective ways to make sure people hear it. Whether you’re raising awareness, rallying a community, or simplifying a complex issue, a well-crafted video helps cut through the noise and drive action.

That’s exactly what we set out to do when Gaetano Greco ran as an independent candidate in the 2022 Victorian State Election. His mission? Save the Preston Market. To help spread the word, we created a whiteboard animated video that struck a chord with voters—transforming a local issue into a powerful community movement

Saving the Heart of Preston

The Preston Market has long been a vibrant multicultural hub, central to the community’s identity. However, proposed redevelopment plans threatened to erase its open-air charm, replacing it with luxury apartments and a soulless retail space. Gaetano Greco, a long-time councillor and former mayor of Darebin, stepped up to champion the cause — making it a key issue in his 2022 Victorian State Election campaign.

Sketch video image of a gentleman wearing a hat and glasses standing in the centre with people behind him carrying a sign with the words "PRESTON MARKET"

A Community-Driven Approach

When Gaetano decided to run as an independent candidate, the team at Sketch Group wanted to help. Our office is located right next to the Preston Market, and many of our team members live in the electorate. We wanted to contribute to his mission and felt that the best way to amplify his message was to create a sketch video.

Bringing Gaetano’s Vision to Life

Our goal was to craft a powerful and authentic message that resonated with the local community. The explainer video was created to:

  • Highlight the cultural and historical significance of the Preston Market
  • Explain the redevelopment concerns and the community’s hopes
  • Showcase Gaetano’s commitment to donating $100,000 of his salary to community projects

Sketch video image of a man holding a red love heart in his right hand with the word "INDEPENDENT". He holds his left hand out and there are four people of different ages and cultures stand at the forefront with 3 circles around them containing images of streets, a lake and a Triangle Image of a kangaroo with the words "Australian made in Darebin"

To ensure authenticity, Gaetano recorded his own voiceover — allowing his passion and connection to the issue shine through as if he were directly speaking to the viewer.

The Impact From The Sketch Video

Although Gaetano wasn’t elected, the campaign achieved its primary goal – turning Preston into a marginal seat and forcing the state government to focus more on local concerns. This shift has subsequently led to increased attention on infrastructure, education, and community projects, including the future of the Preston Market.

At Sketch Group, we’re proud to have played a role in amplifying Gaetano’s message. Our work on this campaign was recognised with a Gold Quill Award from the International Association of Business Communicators (IABC)—the highest accolade in the communications industry. We also donated $4,000 to the Save the Preston Market Action Group, ensuring the fight continues for a market that future generations can enjoy for years to come.

Read the full case study here.

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