Inkspot 36

Number 36

Australian Cartoonists’ Association

June 2002

HOME SWEDE HOME AUSSIES DRAW THE LINE IN SCANDINAVIA Stupid puns aside it seems the Aussie sense of humour is hitting the mark on the other side of the planet. Several Australian comic strips are becoming increasingly popular with Swedish readers. Special comic books have been published, such as “Serie Paraden!” (right) featuring a wide selection of Aussie talent led by Swamp creator Gary Clark. Well done!

Meanwhile Swedish Swamp magazine “Trasket’’ has just been released in its third edition. The All-Australian magazine features the work of Gary Clark, Gerald Piper, Mike Burke, Craig Mann, Mark Lynch, Sean Leahy, John Cook and James Kemsley. Sales have been good and readers reactions have been very positive. One fan described the mag as the funniest they have ever seen. The mag is released every two months in Sweden and if sales continue as they are it will be translated and released in Norway next year. Anyone wanting to submit a strip or panel feature for to the email Gary Clark gary@swamp.com.au

Peter Broelman ACA Secretary

2nd Edition June 2002 Inkspot is produced four times a year by the Australian Cartoonists’ Association and is posted to all major suburban and regional newspapers and national magazines.

Articles, cartoons and information about all sorts of stuff are welcome.

Inkspot ACA PO Box 318, Strawberry Hills NSW 2012 secretary@abwac.org.au All membership enquiries membership@abwac.org.au

02 9601 7688 National Committee President Rod Emmerson 07 4930 4267 president@abwac.org.au Secretary Peter Broelman 08 8255 9939 secretary@abwac.org.au Treasurer Gary Clark treasurer@abwac.org.au State Vice Presidents Roger Fletcher (NSW) 02 9604 9216 nsw@abwac.org.au Malcolm McGookin (QLD) 07 3822 1821 qld@abwac.org.au Dave Allen (SA/NT) 08 8370 9010 sa@abwac.org.au Vane Lindesay (Vic/Tas) vic@abwac.org.au Mick Horne (WA) 08 9388 9989 wa@abwac.org.au Contents copyright ACA or the cartoonist concerned.

Australia Post Registration PP 533798/0015

A big thanks to all those who helped contribute to this issue of Inkspot. All typos are Broelman’s fault.

As passed at the Special Meeting earlier this year in Coogee, ABWAC is now officially known as the Australian Cartoonists’ Association as approved by the Department of Fair Trading in NSW. A more diligent report on the Special Meeting and its consequences are on page three of this issue of Inkspot.

The ACA Committee has decided to keep the exisiting logo design with alterations to wording and we will also be keeping our website address - www.abwac.org.au - in an effort to maintain contact with a name that’s been in existance since 1924.

We are confident that this more apt name description will suit Australia’s only cartoonnist organisation better.

It was sad to see an icon of Australian publishing, Australasian Post, fold. With well over 100 years of service Aussie Post was also home to many Aussie cartoonists. Doug Tainsh, Vane Lindesay and Ken Maynard are just a few of the names who have graced its pages in recent decades. It was also a prolific user of single-gag cartoons. It will be sorely missed.

Work is well underway on the planning of the Stanleys and Cartoon Conference to be held in Canberra on October 26. This tentative booking was endorsed by the Special Meeting and is a result of the success of last year’s Stanleys. Currently venues are being investigated by Mark Lynch, Rod Emmerson and Roger Fletcher. We are sure that a simple, cost-effective Stanleys is the way to go and that all cartoonists will embrace it as a fun weekend and one not to be missed.

James Kemsley and myself have just returned from the National Cartoonists’ Society’s Reuben Awards in Cancun, Mexico.

One of the roles of the ACA is to recommend members not to under-estimate the value of their work.

Many enquiries are about rates. While the ACA cannot dictate what market forces command it strongly advocates fair renumeration for an artist s profession.

This Recommended Rates chart is a guide only. There are many variables that a cartoonist should consider when operating in the freelance world.

This is very evident in the competitive comic strip field where there can be extenuating circumstances such as circulation, publishing rights and market forces. The figures do not include Sundays.

And, of course, should you be charging more than any of these figures, ignore this page altogether.

And if in doubt, ask another cartoonist. One artist s experiences might be more invaluable than you would think.

Coverage of the Reubens (the NCS’s website is www.reuben.org.au), is restricted because this issue of Inkspot was being printed while we were away. Details will follow in due course.

LJ Hooker’s National Cartooning Competition will continue for one final year in its current format.

What happens afterwards will be assessed by their great team. Hopefully they will be able to maintain a strategy to encourage cartooning amongst Aussie school kids which the ACA will ask that all cartoonists donate a little of their time to assist.

One of the ACA’s great members Vane Lindesay has recently lost the use of an eye. The Victorian VP, despite this blow, will maintain his encouragement for social functions in Melbourne.

We certainly wish him well.

This month will be one of the busiest months for us all. Membership renewals will soon be issued, Stanley entries called for, Stanleys planning put into full swing, and nominations for the ACA Committee be called for.

The ACA Committee has a two-year term.

All positions will be declared open. Have a think about what you could do for the profession we all love. Roger Fletcher is the new NSW VP so I suspect it would take a fair bit of effort to pry him away so soon. All details will be mailed to all financial members of the ACA as soon as possible (which means as soon as I start enjoying licking stamps again).

Curry is the flavour of the month lately. Chris Kelly returned from India recently while Luke FoxAllen and Joanne Brooker (formally Applegate congratulations Jo!) are swanning around the Ganges. Also welcome back multi-Stanley award winner Brett Lethbridge from Europe too!

I’m sure there’s a swag of other things I should have mentioned. Keep an eye out for ACA emails.

Australian Cartoonists’ Association Rates Guide B&W spot cartoon or illo.

B&W half page B&W full page Colour half page Colour full page Colour Cover

$ 160.00 $ 220.00 $ 350.00 $ 650.00 $1200.00 $1400.00

Unpublished B/W Caricatures A3 Colour caricatures A3 Live caricaturing (per hour)

$200.00 $300.00 $150.00

Comic strips (newspapers) 10,000 circulation (per day) 50,000 circulation 100,000 circ 400,000 circ.

$15.00 $20.00 $30.00 $80.00

FOR @#$%& SAKE, STOP SLEEPING; THIS IS SERIOUS!

ACA Secretary Peter Broelman gives us the lowdown on what the heck happened at that Special Meeting in Coogee.

After much concern we’d be struggling to reach a quorum we were delighted that 28 people took the time to travel to Coogee last March for a special meeting that was to steer the club back in the right direction.

The Special Meeting’s intentions were threefold. Firstly we had the change of name issue to consider, granting full membership to overseas cartoonists and, last but not least, the future of the Stanleys.

Not surprisingly the meeting started a trifle late as attendees frolicked in the downstairs bar at the Legion’s Club.

Chairman Rod Emmerson introduced Kylie Roll from LJ Hooker to address the Special Meeting.

In short Kylie informed the floor that LJ Hooker is to reevaluate National Cartooning Competition and that 2002 is to be the last year of the competition and sponsorship in its current form. Any new program likely to be internet-based. She added that LJ Hooker is keen to hear feedback from any cartoonist and the club. She then fielded questions from the floor. It was moved and carried that LJ Hooker be thanked for their program and sponsorship of the club.

Two weeks earlier we all heard that comedy genius Spike Milligan had passed away. Rod expressed condolances to Spike’s brother, Patrick, who was present at the meeting.

Next on the agenda was the counting of the ballots. While this was taking place Rod moved the agenda onto the Stanleys where much discussion was focussed on issues such as catering, location, statuettes, attendance, history of past Artist Balls, entertainment, focus on fun, forward planning, Year Book, dates, need to get past members involved, sponsorship, award categories, formalities, Stanleys weekend, and conference.

Phew!

Then the tally was available from our industrious returning officers Jon Kudelka and Pat Campbell.

The change of name motion was carried: 67 votes in favour and 8 against.

The overseas membership motion was carried: 52 votes in favour and 23 against.

The required vote had to be 66.6%.Motion 1 was a landslide while Motion 2 just squeezed though.

After a morning of yabbering, people were getting hungry and thirsty. A lunch break was called while Rod drafted a Stanleys strategy taking into consideration sentiment expressed from the floor . This was then approved by everyone after lunch.

The consensus is as follows: Location: Canberra (all functions in the same venue) Date: October 26 (tentative) Schedule: Friday night – meet and greet Saturday – cartoon conference, AGM Saturday night – less formal, possibly themed Stanleys catering: to be less formal, possibly finger food and casual seating.

Stanley trophies to remain the same format.

Sponsorship of the Year Book to be investigated.

In a nutshell it was recognised that sponsorship opportunities would have an affect on Stanleys indulgence. Members also didn’t want to spend big bucks.

Paul Zanetti

The AGM, conference, Stanleys and post-Stanleys drinkypoos had to be in the same venue so that all cartoonists have the chance to meet eachother.

In other words the focus should be fun.

Three-course catering is out. Apart from being incredibly expensive, formal catering and seating prohibits interaction.

People can sit where they like. The name of the game is meeting everyone else, compare jokes and talk about HB pencils and sable brushes.

After the success of last year and 1995, Canberra was identified as the preferred venue until further notice. It’s easier for Melbourne-based and Sydney-based members to fly down or drive. After all the national capital was originally planned as a middle ground between Australia’s two most populated cities.

And this is certainly the case with the ACA’s membership.

And Canberra is a nice place too!

Tom Hamilton-Foster addressed the General Meeting on behalf of the Rotary Club of Coffs Harbour City.

The National Cartoon Awards is now in its 14th year with prize monies of $10,000 (woohoo!). Tom sought continued club sanction, goodwill and support to continue.

And that about wrapped up the meeting. Oh, except the part where Marie Fletcher dobbed her husband Roger into becoming the NSW Vice President. Good onya Marie!

Proceedings then moved into the Legion Club bar again and eventually a group of around 20 ended up at The Establishment in Sydney for a President’s nosh-up.

Many thanks to those people who turned up at this important meeting (and those who passed in their apologies). It’s also great to see some people travel from interstate and afar. With commitment like that it’s heartening to know that the future of the ACA is looking brighter.

Those present: Rod Emmerson (Chairman), Malcolm McGookin, Lindsay Foyle, Vane Lindesay, Gary Clark, Mark Lynch, Pat Campbell, Lee Sheppard, Marie Fletcher, Roger Fletcher, Kerry Millard, Ian Dalkin, Patrick Milligan, Jon Kudelka, Paul Newell, Scott Rigney, Steve Panozzo, Norman Hetherington, Chris Kelly, Jenny Hughes, Luke Fox-Allen, Warren Brown, Doug Albion, Peter Broelman (minutes), Tom Hamilton-Foster (guest), Kylie Roll (guest), Jodie McLeod (guest).

Comedians, Poets and other Truth Sayers in Australian Society Matt Glover reports on this presentation by Michael Leunig.

“Spirituality is more popular than God or the Church in Australia.

Theological conversations need to engage spiritual beliefs of all people in openness and humility. Cartoonists give voice to many of these conversations, boldly saying things that are normally only whispered.

They tell the truth when nobody else will and thus are often loved – and sometimes hated.”

So said Geoff Wraight in his introduction of Michael Leunig’s presentation at Whitley Theological College in Melbourne on April 10. The seminar was part of an ongoing series designed to stimulate thinking about what role the Church has in a society in which it has largely lost relevance. So why not begin with a “conversation” with one who penetrates the homes and lives of ordinary Australian people every day? The cartoonist.

In his usual style, Leunig turned up late with seemingly nothing prepared.

His wooly hair and softly spoken, bumbling manner, gave the impression that he would much rather be anywhere but in the presence of two hundred people who were waiting for something profound. But very soon, Leunig warmed to his audience by telling some stories of his life in the bush and his view of the land.

Leunig described the spirit of Australia as something that belonged to the land. It grows within the land mass and conquers the people who inhabit it, so much so that even migrants become infected. Over time it forms a people, giving them the character that is unique to Australia. The playful, infectious and beguiling Australian humour is very much part of that character.

The spirit of the land is also persistent, withstanding the abuses that the human race has inflicted on it over the last century. Leunig was astounded that even after so long, we still had not managed to see that human nature was somehow linked to the rest of nature, and so when we harmed the environment, we were also harming ourselves. But at the same time, that persistence also contributes to the formation of the people, giving them an endurance that, even in the face of some of the most difficult conditions, says, “Everything will be alright.”

Returning to the subject of humour, Leunig described it as something that happens between people. “The best humour,” said Leunig, “Is the spontaneous humour of relationship.” It is a form of showing off in the attempt to be heard and,

ABC’s Mediawatch featured this Leunig cartoon that was rejected by The Age’s editor recently. Deemed too contentious in the prickly issue of Middle East politics this cartoon was never published. Australian Cartoonists’ Association President Rod Emmerson penned his thoughts about the issue of editorial direction in a letter to Mediawatch. That letter is duplicated on the opposite page.

perhaps, understood. But humour is not always the truth. It can be a destructive lie and still cause people to laugh, and so the cartoonist needs to be discerning in his or her use of humour.

For the cartoonist, the negative capacity of humans is essential for the creative use of humour. By “negative capacity”, Leunig referred to the ability for humans to not know something - our capacity to wait, or get lost, or be totally out of our depth, but still enjoy the experience.

In one sense, this not knowing brings an element of authenticity to what we do for it is here that we are all equal.

In the following question time, Leunig revealed more about his personal carreer and some of the difficulties he has faced as a cartoonist. Surprisingly, his major influences were not any famous cartoonists, but his mates from school that made him laugh. Like most of us, his formative years were shaped more by the people of his neighbourhood than anyone he saw on television or in the papers.

Caricature was something that Leunig revealed a respect for but also a personal dislike. Although he began his career by trying to do caricature, he found that he didn’t respond to it and over time

has come to agree with the aboriginal thought that portraying the likeness of somebody can steal their identity. That is, others come to know that person by the picture, not the person themselves.

Finally, criticism has been something very familiar to Leunig throughout his career. Everybody from editors, to fellow cartoonists to the average Joe in the street seems to have an opinion about his work. But as he has grown older, Leunig has learnt to accept criticism as part of life and firmly believes that even in the harshest words, there can be found something of value.

At the end of the session, I couldn’t help but think that the seminar was a lot like one of Leunig’s cartoons. Some of the time I laughed. Some of the time I pondered. Some of the time I just had no idea what he was trying to say. Nevertheless, he was very well received, and it was encouraging to see that there are some sections of our community that value the contribution cartoonists make to our society.

Matt Glover is a pastor at Mitcham Baptist Church in Melbourne, a student at Whitley Theological College and a freelance cartoonist. www.mattglover.com

I watched with interest your story (Monday 6th May 2002) regarding the rejection of a Michael Leunig cartoon by his editor from The Age. I must confess to some intrigue. Firstly, rejection by editors of editorial cartoons by artists the calibre of Michael although extremely rare, can and does happen, but rarely the stuff of public debate; more a matter of fodder for intellectual jousting.

Cartoonists are found often defending their work at an editorial level and usually win the right of publication after some debate.

However, rejection at this level can also be well founded for reasons way beyond the subject of the work and of serious concern to the editor.

In this instance, the editor and the cartoonist are probably both right. The cartoon meets all the expectations of high quality incisive work and displays a great understanding of middle-east dilemmas. It’s clever, it creates debate and tiptoes around the edges of decency, slander and fairness. It is everything you would expect Michael to do and quite worthy of publication.

On the other hand, the editor is no doubt all too aware of the combustible debate that can and does rage relentlessly as a result of this particular subject at street-level; especially in cartoon format. Misconception and interpretation can take on mammoth proportions; many well documented. There is a small but well-defined boneyard of similar work in the US on this subject, that has met the wrath of Jewish/Arab readers and at the end of the day, both cartoonist and editor may have silently wished it had never surfaced at all. With The Age circulation reaching a fairly similar readership, and circulation a buzz word on editorial floors; the editor I suspect has probably thought (right or wrong), “great cartoon...pity we can’t afford to spend the next 12 months defending it”. For the cartoonist however, political and religious sensitivities are just another subject.

So they should be.

Another more prickly matter is that an editorial decision is now in the public arena for discussion. Freedom of the press isn’t the issue here. The cartoon can easily be published. Our cartoonists (by and large) enjoy more freedoms than their American counterparts, which is an awesome responsibility and not taken lightly by our handful of notable scribblers, nor their editors.

The intellectual locking of horns is an ageold problem and more often than not - the editor falls on the side of caution. In this case, he may well have saved them both from thousands of man-hours of defence; or lost an extra print run because the cartoon was so popular, it rated it’s socks off. In these days of post-September 11, I imagine this scenario repeating itself on matters very close to the bone.

Once again, a great cartoon.

Rod Emmerson

SKETCHING FOR TENTH YEAR RUNNING Grab your pencils and prepare to laugh yourself silly, as schools across the nation get up to some funny business. The 2002 National Cartooning Competition is here, on-line and ready to discover Australia's cartoonists of the future.

The medium of cartooning offers primary and secondary art and media studies teachers a new direction for their 2002 curriculums.

Through the 2002 National Cartooning Competition, teachers can offer their students the opportunity to enter a national competition while developing their artistic and creative thinking skills through the medium of cartooning.

The National Cartooning Competition is a joint initiative of the ACA and L.J. Hooker, the competition sponsor since it's inception. The competition assists and encourages students to engage in cartooning to produce one-off, gag cartoons.

The aim of this project, now in its tenth year and in place in hundreds of schools nationally, is to introduce cartooning into education in a form that will enable students to benefit from an activity that offers unique educational opportunities.

As part of their curriculum, primary and secondary students can enter the National Cartooning Competition.

Cartooning skills are taught to children through an interactive education kit delivered via the Internet at www.ljhooker.com.au or alternatively www.cartooningcompetition.com.au. The kit has been endorsed by both the Federal and the New South Wales Governments and is recognised as a national teaching resource.

For those schools who do not have

access to the Internet the resource is available through a video kit for primary schools and as a CD ROM for secondary schools.

Well-known Cartoonist and Educator, Ian Dalkin has developed the education resources. These teaching tools are fully interactive and task driven, allowing for easy facilitation by the classroom teacher.

The resource provides children with a foundation designed to give them the parameters for developing their own styles. It also serves as a critical base for teachers to monitor drawing development.

According to Mr. Dalkin, cartooning is an important learning vehicle for children.

"Cartooning not only develops competence in drawing and creative thinking, but it is also a means of developing skills in other important

NEWS FROM THE BUNKER BUNKER CARTOON GALLERY, COFFS HARBOUR Our current exhibition “Caught” is bowling more than a few maidens over. Quite a few males have also been ‘caught’ up by the “Flannelled Foolery” on display.

A one-off exercise features 50 photographs of Australian and international cricket at its best and worst. Mr Viv Jenkins, former official photographer for Kerry Packer’s World Series and the ACB donated the framed photographs to the Bunker to be used as a major fundraiser during the exhibition Big thanks to Matt Golding for making available his winning “Walkley Award”, described by the judges as “Terrific talent and a beautifully executed piece. The death of Australia’s cricketing icon is handled with style and affection. Its everything it should be – like the man himself – restrained and stylish. Goldings piece brilliantly walks the tight rope between reverence and gentle humour”.

David Rowe’s winning “Cartoon of the Year” for the 2001 Rotary Cartoon Awards, also paid tribute to “The Don” and is a feature of the exhibition, which closes at the end of July. If you’re up this way come in and judge for yourself.

Lindsay Foyle, in Coffs for the exhibition opening, brought our volunteers up to date on the changes within ABWAC and also talked about cartooning history. Thanks Lindsay. The gallery is very appreciative of his ongoing support.

With the 2002 Rotary Cartoon Awards only a few weeks away The Bunker Cartoon Gallery extends a special invitation to all ACA members to come along for the Awards Night. Although the date has not been officially set by Rotary yet, you will be advised through the ACA. The industry has been poorly represented at

The industrious Richard Jones and his magical white board at the Bunker Cartoon Gallery entertains enthusiastic patrons. this function and it would be a great boost to Rotary and the artists moral to have some of their peers present to acknowledge their achievements.

The Bunker is indebted to the City of Coffs Harbour Rotary Club for maintaining a competition which provides the backbone for most of our exhibitions. Any ACA members who would like to attend and spare an hour on a Saturday morning to speak with our volunteers – I’d love to hear from you! Volunteers are our backbone and we try and expose them to as many cartoonists as possible.

They use this experience in when speaking with our visitors.

Until next time remember “He who Laughs – Lasts” Margaret Bridgman Gallery Administrator

14th ANNUAL ROTARY CARTOON AWARDS Entries for the 2002 Rotary Cartoon Awards are now invited.

Rotary Club of Coffs Harbour City

Australian Cartoonists Association

Federation of Cartoonists Organisations

The competition with prizes of over $10,000 recognises the best of Australian and International cartoons.

The Rotary Cartoon Awards are sponsored by the Rotary Club of Coffs Harbour City to raise funds for various Rotary charities and promote black and white art through the Bunker Cartoon Gallery. All entries are donated to the Rotary Club of Coffs Harbour City, which exhibits the cartoons to raise additional charity funds. The closing date for entries is July 31, 2002.

The Rotary Cartoon Awards 2002 are conducted in association with the Australian Cartoonists Association and the Federation of Cartoonists Organisations (FECO). AWARDS PRESENTATION: Saturday 31 August, 2002 at the BUNKER CARTOON GALLERY in Coffs Harbour, NSW.

NATIONAL AWARDS Open ONLY to Australian citizens or residnts of Australia over 18 years of age.

BEST CARTOON WITH A POLITICAL THEME 1st $750 plus winner s medallion (Merit $250 plus Merit Medallion) BEST CARTOON WITH A BUSINESS THEME 1st $750 plus winner s medallion (Merit $250 plus Merit Medallion) BEST CARTOON OPEN THEME 1st $750 plus winner s medallion (Merit $250 plus Merit Medallion) BEST CARTOON SPORTS THEME 1st $750 plus winner s medallion (Merit $250 plus Merit Medallion) BEST COMIC STRIP 1st $750 plus winner s medallion (Merit $250 plus Merit Medallion) BEST CARICATURE 1st $750 plus winner s medallion (Merit $250 plus Merit Medallion) SPECIAL 2002 THEME: What s cooking - Food 1st $750 plus winner s medallion (Merit $250 plus Merit Medallion) INTERNATIONAL AWARD Open to ALL cartoonists WORLDWIDE over 18 years of age SPECIAL 2002 THEME: Art and the artists 1st $750 plus winner s medallion (Merit $250 plus Merit Medallion) CARTOON OF THE YEAR One cartoon to be selected from all categories in both National and International sections $1,500 plus winner s medallion

For an entry form and conditions of entry email the ACA and a form will be emailed to you - secretary@abwac.org.au

LIVING WITH ASTHMA ART COMPETITION The Living With Asthmas Art Competition was a joint initiative between Asthma Australia and AstraZeneca with the aim to raise awareness of the impact of asthma on people s lives.

The Living with Asthma National art competition was open to people of all ages with asthma, who were invited to draw or paint their experience of living with asthma. First, second and third prizes of $1,000, $500 and $250 were awarded in each age category: children (up to 11 years); youth (12-18 years) and adult (19 years and over).

Congratulations to 11 year old Darren Quinn from Ocean Reef, WA, for his comic strip detailing his positive outlook and love of physical activity while being an asthmatic.

Part of Darren’s winning comic strip about asthma

Children winners 1st - Darren Quinn, 11, WA 2nd - Charles Buchner, 6, Vic 3rd - Sam Ferguson, 4, Qld Youth winners 1st - Anne Williams,18, Tas 2nd - Genevieve Clay, 13, NSW 3rd - Julie Lovell, 15, NSW Adult winners 1st - Athena Ferreras, 20, Tas 2nd- Bernadette Harrigan, 50, NSW 3rd - Catherine Poronnik, 36, NSW

QUEENSLAND NEWS The State Library workshops went swimmingly in January, with ACA members Joanne Brooker, Ken Dove, Sean Leahy, Gerard Piper, John Cook and Malcolm McGookin all giving talks to audiences ranging in age from eight to 18.

The State Library were so happy with the response from children and parents that they’ve scheduled a further week of workshops in the July school holidays to cater for demand, the first time they’ve felt moved to do so since the workshops started over ten years ago.

Three QLD members, Gary Clark, Craig Mann and Malcolm McGookin, made the journey to Sydney for the Special Meeting, the focal point of a weekend which was a little bit historic in its nature, but more than a little enjoyable too.

The QLD chapter of the ACA has been unforgiveably slack in arranging its first yearly meeting as late as May, but with a lot of people absent (and certainly a couple have simply dropped off the radar) the pressure of work, plus the fact that both Malcolm McGookin and Gary Clark’s kids play soccer on Saturdays, the excuses aren’t hard to find.

Nevertheless, a permanent venue seems to have been established at last, with the Plough Inn Tavern at South Bank proving itself a hit in the past with members. The last meeting (held at 2pm) stretched on into the early evening, and a couple of diehards - well, Craig Mann and McGookin stayed on quaffing a little longer than was prurient.

Lee the landlord at the Plough has offered an upstairs room for regular meetings, and the meeting day has been switched from that inconvenient Saturday afternoon to a Thursday evening at 6.30pm.

Consider yourself invited. Ring me for the next date.

Malcolm McGookin ACA QLD VP ESQ

SUPANOVA CONVENTION

Supanova Pop Culture Expo 2002, held in Sydney in April was an extravaganza for sci-fi fans with special guests, special activities, competitions, tournaments, animation and film screenings. Star Wars, Pokemon, DragonBall Z, Batman, the X-Men and Star Trek fans met at the Sydney Showgrounds which, not surprisingly, included cartoonists. ACA’s Lee Sheppard caught up with the team from DC Comics flown out especially for the expo. Will Cactus Island join the X-Men?

(Left) Tim McEwen, star of Star Wars (the t-shirt gives it away) towers above 6 2 Lee Sheppard.

(Above) DC Comics artist Frank Quitely (Judge Dredd, New X-Men) and writer Mark Millar (Swamp Thing, The Flash, X-Men) at Supanova.

WE RE NOT WORTHY! You might think that after 40 years on Australian television, countless magazine articles, TV documentaries, exhibitions, ad campaigns and science fiction conventions, Norman Hetherington (and his perennially-youthful sidekick Mr. Squiggle) would have already seen the pinnacle of success. Well, it looks like they’ve finally cracked it, big time. The May 2002 edition of Reader’s Digest carries Norman and Squiggle on the back cover under the headline, “Australian Icons”. We’re not worthy, we’re not worthy...

MAY THE FARCE BE WITH YOU Anyone wondering where all that budget money for internal security is going to be spent should visit David Pope and Pat Campbell at Studio 8 in Canberra.

The Australian Protective Service have been using the laneway directly below their windows for riot training for a couple of months, ever since the hardware store below them closed down. And they’ve been practising in brand new clobber - the full Imperial Death Star monty; shiny new batons, sleek black helmets, protective padding with built in drink bladders, etc.

It’s been impossible for David and Pat to get any work done as they are easily distracted into watching them line up in Roman formation and practise their baton technique.

“Today the trainees were complaining about how their visors were steaming up in the cold Canberra air.”, said David. “Their instructor replied that they’d better get used to it, because they’ll get just as steamy up in “coconut land”. I wonder which lucky “coconut landers” they’re off to visit?”

ROLF TRANSLATES WELL Lothian of Melbourne is about to publish a 64-page childrens book written and illustrated by Rolf Heimann, ‘TOM’. All 40 or so illustrations as well as the coloured cover design were created in Photoshop on Rolf’s Mac computer.

Penguin has bought the rights of most of Rolf’s previous book and is expected to reprint some of them and has signed contracts for more childrens books. His last book ‘Day of the Dragon’ has been rewritten in German as a radioplay and is available on audio CD. It has also been published in Estonia!

In addition to German, Danish, Spanish, Chinese and Estonian, some of his books will soon appear in Korean.

The Chinese translator required about a hundred clarifications, such as: ‘please, what is a mayor of Wagga Wagga?’

Meanwhile Little Hare Books of Sydney has contracted Rolf to produce another book of colourful mazes with the animals of the Chinese Zodiac. It is appropriately titled ’Zoodiac’.

Rolf’s latest childrens book character Tom.

STREWTH! DAVO IS FAIR DINKUM, MATE! The National Museum of Australia has published a book and cards of cartoons

by ACT/ACA member David Pope, from its popular exhibit on Australian English. ”Aussie English for Beginners” explores the origins and meanings of some unique Australian words and phrases, with definitions provided by the Australian National Dictionary Centre.

David’s cartoons for the exhibition and book helped him win the Stanley last year for humorous illustration. Copies of the book can be ordered direct from the Museum Shop by phoning (02) 6208 5222 ($14.95 + $5 postage within Australia).

Rolf Heimann, Australian correspondent for the international cartooning magazine WittyWorld, has just returned from a editorial meeting in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The attending cartoonists participated - among other things - in a discussion about censorship at the University of Washington. It seemed that the American audience was not aware that their country practices more censorship than comparable ‘democratic’ countries, especially in areas touching religion. Joe Szabo, founder of WittyWorld, expressed dismay that no pro-Israeli cartoons were submitted, leaving him open to accusations of bias. With official duties over, Rolf and his wife Lila went on a tour of West Virginia and neighboring states, sampling such local delights as fried green tomatoes and biscuits and gravy. Lila, a quilt-maker, took special interest in the crafts of Amish country. And blue-grass music is still ringing in their ears!

ACA member Jon Cocks is seen regularly in television commercials with this latest appearance for Onga water pumps. Here s a still shot of Jon sprucing himself up for a date with destiny... er, Onga pump. We hope he didn t blow a gasket. Pic cour tesy Geor gina Toole and the excellent folk at KWP! FROM THE PAVILLION - A DISPLAY OF ORIGINAL CARICATURE features 44 sport caricatures by MCC member Alan Rose who is noted for scribbling away during a footy match or cricket game. I draw from the limited mug shots in the records. All the original tea and sauce stains, biro lines, and creases from being jammed into a crowd, are still there! Alan said.