By Lyndsey Wetton, Fremantle-Cockburn Gazette
HE used to break them up, but now former policeman John Brew gets the party started.
The Atwell resident, who now owns party-supply shop We Like To Party, in Jandakot has just been recognised as WA’s first certified balloon artist, gaining his qualification late last month from international organisation Qualatex Balloon Network.
Now one of around 2000 certified balloon artists worldwide, Mr Brew said his career change came about unexpectedly about 10 years ago when he saw a gap in party services around his home.
“We were having a party and we had to go all the way to Cannington to get balloons, and we thought, why isn’t there something like this in our area?” he said.
“In the police force, I used to stop all the parties and now I start them with the jukeboxes and slushy machines.”
From birthday parties and weddings to huge displays at corporate events, the inflatable creations may look like fun and games, but Mr Brew assured the Gazette that the qualification did not come easily.
But he said that the hours of study and a series of four-hour exams required to demonstrate his knowledge of how to create a balloon masterpiece for any occasion were well worth it.
“I am honoured to be the only Western Australian Certified Balloon Artist,” he said.