Christopher Watkins, 7, of Higgins, hit the advertising world in a big way, The Canberra Times reported on this day 45 years ago.
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Christopher was responsible for a very bright illustration on the 1976 census day national poster.
The illustration was one that his father chose to brighten his office at the Bureau of Statistics.
The painting attracted the attention of an employee in the census department, who saw its potential as an advertisement for census day.
About 10,000 copies of the poster were printed and circulated to banks, doctor surgeries and shops throughout Australia.
Christopher was a little overwhelmed by the attention his painting had received and said emphatically "I can draw much better pictures now". While Christopher basked in the admiration of his school friends who, he said, considered him quite a genius, his father took a more adult view of the situation and hoped that the importance of the census would be conveyed by the poster.
Meanwhile, also making news in Canberra was consideration being given to rising the cost of domestic air fares by 3 per cent. It was believed that Ansett Transport Industries were opposed to the proposed increase.
