About_Bob_Campbell

When I left school, I was going to be an engineer, but I finished up working for the Western Australian government. That led to my being selected for computer training when the government decided to follow the latest trend.

I started training on July 31, 1967 and soon became a computer programmer, then a systems analyst and designer, all with the State Treasury, which at the time was running a computer bureau operation for a number of state government departments.

At the end of 1975 I shifted to Canberra to work for the Commonwealth Government in the Department of Administrative Services where I worked on electoral roll maintenance systems and then on statistical publications for the Federal Police Drug Squad. In February 1979, I headed back to Western Australia where I joined the Rural and Industries Bank (R&I), which is now the Bank of Western Australia and largely owned by the Bank of Scotland, but it was then owned by the WA Government.

It all started when I took up writing for a motor sports paper, Auto Action, in early 1982. That led to my being employed by the Royal Automobile Club of Western Australia (RAC) in August 1983 to work on the club's bi-monthly journal, The Road Patrol. I was with the RAC for over 12 years, the last seven as editor of the magazine, which lost its definite article during my editorship, becoming Road Patrol.

The work included general news releases, speeches for the president (for the AGM) and preparing columns as required for newspapers.

During my time with the magazine, I wrote virtually all the vehicle appraisal and road test articles, plus travel features and road safety stories as well as editing the magazine. During my time as editor the standard size of the magazine increased from 48 pages to 88 pages with occasional spurts to 96 pages. I introduced competitions for readers and kept up with reader opinion of the magazine to make sure that readership continued to increase.

This unique blend of training and experience, 16 years of training and working in computer systems design and specification, plus over 20 years of writing provided an exceptional ability to convert your rough notes into clear, easily read text that will get your message across to your clients. My work with computer and technical people means that I can translate the jargon of your trade or profession into plain English.

In May 1996 I left the RAC to pursue a career as a freelance writer. Since then I have written articles for various magazines and newspapers on subjects ranging from wooden ships and classic cars to panel beating and accounting. I have even prepared speech notes for a former Premier of the state.

I have specialized in professionally written and produced newsletters and promotional material as used by a number of Western Australia’s leading companies. Other projects have included four books with one more on the way. Magazines I have written for are described here.

In addition to material for print, I have written and edited text for web sites for clients including The Pitstop Bookshop, LiftRite Hire & Sales, Express-Link Transport and Fertal Holdings.

I have also assisted clients to find products and services that they needed and which were outside my usual range of services. If you visit Express-Link's office, please take time to admire the colourful prints of famous international landmarks that hang on the walls. I sourced those images and organised the printing and framing for Express-Link.

The Future

As I have taken up an offer of full time employment with The Pitstop Bookshop from July 1, 2008, there will be some limitations on the freelance work I can take on. However, please contact me if you have any projects with which I can help you.