Frederick, who goes only by his first name, is the creation of YouTuber Robert Cook. His popularity on YouTube have earnt him the admiration of his peers and a spot in the prestigious Partnership Program.
In this exclusive video with Frederick himself, he talks love, life and profanity.
The Sutherland Shire is in the South of Sydney, situated between Botany Bay and Georges River.
The 215,000 residents that occupy the Sutherland Shire are indebted to the original land owners, the Dharawal People. The three national parks in the Shire all pay respect to the traditional land owners, as do statues at landing place, Kurnell.
Modern day Sutherland Shire is largely suburban, however some commercial interests are located in the Shire. Westfield Miranda is the third largest centre in NSW, and provides thousands of jobs for local residents. Factories for car dealerships, metal industries and clothing companies dominate Kirrawee and Taren Point.
The Sutherland Shire is known for its proud residents, and often referred to as ‘The Shire’. Cronulla beach is the obvious local attraction in the Sutherland Shire. The beaches in Cronulla are split into four major surf areas, Wanda, Elouera, North Cronulla and South Cronulla. Tourism is prevalent in Cronulla, and this reinforces the appeal the beach has.
Coupled with Cronulla Beach, Kurnell is an area that demands attention. Kurnell, sometimes referred to as ‘The birthplace of modern Australia,’ is historically important to the Sutherland Shire, and Australia.
Captain James Cook landed here in on 29th April, 1770. This historical landing place is now flanked by an education centre, which explains the settlement of Australia.
Although the Shire has a lot to offer, there are some local problems. On a national scale the area was widely criticized following the Cronulla Riots in 2005. These race-fuelled riots were sparked after violence at Cronulla Beach. These events scarred the Sutherland Shire, and prompted calls that the Shire, and its residents, were racist.
This was highly embarrassing for the Sutherland Shire, and caused major problems for the area.
On a more geographic level, the Sutherland Shire is facing large erosion problems. The sand walls at Elouera beach are in need of reconstruction, and four million dollars from the Federal Budget has been allocated to fix this issue.
Recently violent behavior has attracted more bad press for the Sutherland Shire. Nightspot Northies, and club Carmens, have both been put on notice for failing to control behaviour. This follows a series of bashings during January and February. A police task force from Miranda Police Station has been created to curtail violence in the Shire night spots.
The Sutherland Shire is an area where old school Australia clashes with the modern day global society. Although this creates tension, it does provide residents an interesting, culturally aware, nationally proud, area to live in.
The local history highlights why the Sutherland Shire influences so many artists, writers, musicians and performers.
The Rudd Government has spent 65 million dollars on the Sutherland Shire in its first Federal Budget. The Art world will only see a small percentage of that, with $200,000 spent on upgrades to Sutherland Entertainment Centre, and $20,000 going to Hazelhurst Gallery.
Kevin Rudd, and Treasurer Wayne Swan visited the Sutherland Shire in February, meeting Mayor David Redmond, and surveying the local infrastructure. Although the majority of spending is occurring in land development, the cash injections for the Gallery, and Entertainment Centre are desperately needed.
Hazelhurst curator Dan Cunningham said that ‘despite various levels of funding’ the aid from the Council was always needed.
The money will go towards ‘funding new exhibitions, commissioning artists and just general maintenance’ said Cunningham.
The budget also provided Sutherland Shire libraries with a 1.1 million dollar payment, to be spent in refurbishments. Part of this money will be used to develop a radio station at the library that will be used for education purposes.
These payments far outweigh the contribution given to Sutherland Shire in former budgets, and Mayor Redmond was glowing in his appraisal,
‘This budget fulfils many of the commitments made over the past four years.’
The good news doesn’t stop there for Sutherland Shire artists. The Federal Budget included a royalty re-payment scheme for visual artists. Currently in Australia, royalties are not paid to visual artists when their work is reprinted. However pre-election promises made by Peter Garrett have been acted upon, and now artists can claim royalties. This will be welcome news for indigenous artists, as the market continues to swell.
Local artist Louise McDowell feels this initiative is a step in the right direction, and will bring artists in line with their peers.
‘Writers, actors, and singers, all get royalties, so I guess it is only fair. Some of my work has been used in textbooks and journals. It’s good, it’s the right thing.’
The money will be spent in a payment plan worked out by councilors at next months meeting.
The south of Sydney is not only famed for its golden beaches, leafy suburbs, and proud residents. The Sutherland Shire has been the birthplace for some of the most talented, and respected musicians in Australia.
Although the Shire has only two main venues, the Brass Monkey and Caringbah Bizzo’s, emerging talent still manages to get noticed, through word of mouth, Battle of the Bands Competitions, and inner city gigging.
Bassist Cameron Whipp has tasted both commercial success, and independent struggle. The twenty-year-old musician joined folk rockers Angus and Julia Stone straight out of high school. At nineteen he found himself touring the UK, playing at the worlds biggest music festivals, and recording a platinum album. However the bassist split with the band in 2007, and has now formed his own musical monster, in the form of Radiohead-esque Different Trains.
‘Yeah it was tough leaving that (Angus and Julia Stone) gig. But you know, move onto different things, Different Trains, as it happens. Hopefully get some local gigs, but more opportunities in the city.’
Whipp hopes to emulate his Shire peers who have tasted success. Everyone’s favourite idol Matt Corby has been gigging locally since his explosion on the scene in late 2007. Jak Housden, whose band The Whitlams, are an Australian institution on the live music scene. Housden is Shire born and raised, and plays regularly at the Brass Monkey, his next visit in October.
The Shire also provided a wonderful platform for rockers The Vines, who played at Bizzo’s, before making a name for themselves nationally, in the UK , and USA.
‘A lot of musicians come from the Shire. Of course it is a very territorial place, so if you mention it, other Shire people yell out. It would be great to match the success of other Shire bands.’
The nurturing hand of suburbia, which encourages creativity and success, has touched all these bands, and Different Trains, hopes to follow the same formula.
The live music scene, in the Shire, and greater Sydney, has experienced a resurgence on the back of the strong early nineties scene. The Bragg, the Drum Media and 3d World, all have sections dedicated to the bands kicking around in the Shire. Coupled with this exposure is Triple J Unearthed : High School, which has visited several local high schools, including Menai High, Cronulla, Wooloware, and St. Pats. This opportunity offers young musicians, songwriters and bands the ability to get themselves on a nationally broadcast show, and in turn, get their music heard.
Different Trains
Robert Cook is a performer first, retail salesman second. This prominent YouTuber, (29th most Subscribed of all time!), created the character Frederick, a boggled eyed, opinionated, social commentator. On the back of this charatcer Robert Cook has managed to become a Partner in YouTube’s lucrative Partnership Program. Here Rob talks about the program, Frederick, and the future.
A few excerpts from the interview :
1) When did you create Frederick?
I was playing around on computer, and I created these big eyes with special effects. It was originally another character. Then I heard about this thing called YouTube, and just started uploading.
2) Explain the basis of the character, what he does, why he does it.
I don’t know why he does what he does. Every time I do the character is not me, I know he is part of me, but it’s not me. I think it just the mischievous child, inner me coming out.
3) When did you first post on YouTube?
2006, around June.
4) How many subscribers and viewers do you now have?
I just hit 3900 subscribers. I think its like 15,000 channel views.
5) Why has Frederick been so popular on YouTube?
It is the eyes, no one else is doing it. But I think it is just that universal appeal to someone with those big dopey eyes. Apart from that I think he says what people are thinking.
6) You’ve been involved with the Partnership program, what does this mean?
Basically what happens its you get banners and auto play on your home page. Banners are at the top of the page, it gives your channel a bit more character. I was one of the first ten in Australia to be in the Partnership Program in Australia.
You put a video up, and basically they give you the option of having an ad put next to it by Google. So you get revenue off that ad, like 5 cents, every time it is clicked.
7) Can someone carve a financial future out of YouTube?
Definitely. Anything can happen though. You wouldn’t want to be basing it on YouTube, but yeah you can.
8 ) What opportunities has this presented to you?
Not yet. People have made offers to come and do talks. But nothing financial.
9) Where do you see your involvement with YouTube going?
I’ll always see it as a hobby, that I get a bit of cash off. I’ll just keep doing what I’m doing.
Markus Zusak is an award winning, critically acclaimed and Sutherland Shire based author. Writing from the age of sixteen, Markus Zusak had his first book, The Underdog published when he was 25. Two sequels followed this, then The Messenger, a searching tale about a young taxi driver. Then, in 2006, Markus published The Book Thief an emotional tale set in Nazi Germany, about a young girl, who steals books, a Jewish boxer, and all the atrocities in between. The book was a bestseller world wide, has been sold to Fox Films, and stamped Zusak’s arrival on the literary scene.
Excerpts from the Interview
Markus Zusak :
On Writing
The magic act of reading a book, I felt like I was there. I didn’t even notice the pages turning anymore.
It’s like you are there.
When that happened for me as a reader, I thought, that’s what I wanted to do with my life, I want to do that.
On Personal Experience and Beautiful Moments
My first book is based on personal experiences, being rejected by a girl, stealing a street sign with my brother. As you progress with writing your ability to be more imaginative and creative grows. Same amount of autobiography in there, but there is more around it.
I always want there to be a really good moment, be it in a book or movie. The best moments happen between characters.
On the other hand, I’ve always had a fairly strong idea of family in my books, so maybe it comes from there.
On Reception of Book Thief
I thought no one would read that book, so I wrote it exactly as I wanted to write it. Anything I thought would annoy people, I kept it in.
We’re always pushing away from things people see as negative. Emotional moments, too negative. So I just thought well, let’s embrace some of those things.
It’s also been successful because that book means so much to me. In terms of my writing career that book means everything to me. I think readers pick up on that. So it becomes more compelling.
On Death as Narrator
It came from doing the work. You get your best ideas sitting down wirintg.
I was actually doing some wor with some students at a shool, and ai got them to write something, and I wrote something. Nad I ralised in my three pieces, Death was the narrator. So I thought maybe I should bring this into the book Im working on, and that was The Book Thief.
Another thing is the idea of Death narrating in wartime, made perfect sense, I think that made people, take notice of it.
On what’s next
It’s alot harder, because suddenly I have an audience. A lot has been written and said about the last book. There’s people who love it and people who hate it, but if you start listening to either of them they are equally damaging.
I need to just write the story. I’ve always felt I can do better then my last novel. I write with a hope to always do better. If people compare it to the Book Thief, that’s fine, so they should in a way.
On the Editorial Process
I deliver my books as if I feel like they could be published the next day. I’m not a very collaborative person, let alone writer. I usually don’t have big editorial problems, The Book Thief if you read the manuscript, you’ll read the finished product.
I’ve written with the philosophy they wont publish unless it’s perfect.
LINES IN THE SAND
What : Lines in the Sand
When : Right now! Till 28th May
Why : It’s splendid
Lines in the Sand is an exhibition that explores the events of 1770 and 1788 at local Botany Bay, with artworks by both indigenous and non indigenous artists. The Hazelhurst Gallery chose this concept to coincide with the Apology to the Stolen Generations.
The theme of the exhibition is the local landings at Botany Bay in 1770 and 1788, with an indigenous viewpoint explored through the various mediums. Curator Ace Burke was essential in the authenticity of the piece.
“We commissioned curator Ace Burke, his art is colonial, aboriginal inspired. Also his family lineage is connected with the landings. Plus he lives in the area, so there’s a local connection” said Hazelhurst curator Dan Cunningham.
The exhibition is split into 1770 and 1788, with artworks coming from both indigenous and non-indigenous artists.
The European impression of Botany Bay upon arrival, highlighted in many of the pieces, juxtaposed with the indigenous view of foreigners adds a visual narrative to our checkered history.
The sand installation Untitled by artist Daniel Boyd is indicative of the message of Lines in the Sand. By using natural elements, and creating ripples, to stand for repercussions, Boyd has become in tune with sympathetic message of indigenous acceptance in 2008.
Lines in the Sand is an exhibition that is important to Hazelhurst and the Sutherland Shire because it delves into indigenous history of the area. The Botany Bay landings are detrimental to the identity of the Sutherland Shire residents. The exhibition has a celebratory feel, with indigenous artists such as Gordon Bennett and Tracey Moffatt featuring. However the ignorance and bitterness felt by some of the indigenous community is still represented with the Boat People photos, which are startling and confronting.
The Hazelhurst Gallery undertook this exhibition in conjunction with the Federal Government’s apology to the Indigenous population.
This exhibition acts as a pretext to the events of 2008. The focus on Botany Bay landings in the late 1770’s offers the local resident a sense of their own history, and a snapshot of the lives of indigenous people, and European settlers upon arrival.
This politically charged and emotionally stirring exhibition is the perfect compliment to the topical and current discussion of indigenous issues in modern day society, from a historical standpoint.
