CAL pays tribute to the man behind Mr Squiggle

Well known Australian illustrator and CAL member Norman Hetherington passed away on 6 December, aged 89. Norman was the man behind Australia’s longest-running Children’s television series, Mr Squiggle, and the character of the same name that appeared on the show.

Norman was on air for just over 40 years from July 1959 until July 1999. His character, Mr Squiggle, was a marionette that had a pencil for a nose. Children would send in their “squiggles” to the show, and Mr Squiggle connected the lines with his pencil nose to create a recognisable drawing. Norman manipulated the puppet from above to complete the drawing.

Norman was presented with his smock and made a lifetime member of the Australian Cartoonists Association in recognition of his outstanding and longterm contribution to the art.

He passed away after a long battle with cancer.