Editing Louie The Fly (section)

== Creation ==
At 24, while working as an advertising copywriter for Sydney’s McCann Erickson agency, Courtenay was tasked with developing the character. This came after Bill Graham, the managing director of the company that made Mortein, rejected the original proposal. Courtenay, who would later become known for novels like ''The Power of One'', ''Tandia'', and ''The Potato Factory'', created Louie. The character, along with a memorable jingle, became a beloved Australian icon, appearing in Mortein ads every Spring and Summer.

Louie’s original singing voice, introduced in 1962, was performed by Neil Williams, later replaced by actor Ross Higgins, known for his role as Ted Bullpitt in ''Kingswood Country''. Higgins gave Louie a Chicagoan gangster style, inspired by Edward G. Robinson’s voice. The jingle was composed by James Joseph White, who worked on several other commercial jingles. It was the only composition he copyrighted, and after his death, his relatives inherited the rights.