Mr. Squiggle and Friends dock at the National Museum!

By Our Reporter
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Rebecca Hetherington with Bill Steamshovel, Gus and Mr Squiggle.

Australia’s cherished lunar puppeteer, Mr Squiggle, has made a grand entrance into the National Museum of Australia, marking a significant homecoming for one of the nation’s most adored children’s television characters. Alongside his trusted companions Blackboard, Rocket, Bill Steamshovel, and Gus the Snail, Mr Squiggle brings with him an astonishing array of memorabilia spanning his decades-long career on Australian TV.

Originating from the creative mind of Norman Hetherington, the master puppeteer and artist behind Mr Squiggle, the collection includes the original marionette and over 800 items such as puppets, artworks, scripts, costumes, props, sets, production notes, merchandise, and audio-visual material. This treasure trove, now a part of the National Historical Collection, arrives 65 years after Mr Squiggle first appeared on the television screens of Australian families, bringing joy and sparking creativity across generations.

Katherine McMahon, Director of the National Museum, shared her delight at this new acquisition, reminiscing about how Mr Squiggle was a staple of her own childhood. “Mr Squiggle not only entertained but also inspired countless Australian children to embrace their artistic side,” Ms McMahon stated. The museum director anticipates this exhibition will offer a unique opportunity for older generations to revisit cherished memories and introduce the magic of Mr Squiggle to new audiences.

The collection’s move to the National Museum was spearheaded by Norman Hetherington’s daughter, Rebecca Hetherington, affectionately known as ‘Miss Rebecca’ to the show’s fans. As the final presenter of Mr Squiggle and Friends, her pivotal role in the decision to house her father’s works at the museum ensures the preservation and public enjoyment of this significant slice of Australian cultural history.

“We are incredibly grateful to Rebecca for allowing us to house these national treasures. This collection is more than an archive; it’s a portal to a golden age of Australian television and creativity,” expressed Ms McMahon. The collection promises to be a highlight within the museum, cherished by staff and visitors alike.

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Rebecca Hetherington expressed her joy over the collection’s new residency. “Seeing my father’s life’s work respected and preserved in such a dignified manner is deeply satisfying. He was a unique talent who infused his creations with wit, charm, and boundless creativity,” she remarked.

Dr Sophie Jensen, Senior Curator at the National Museum, also commented on the importance of the acquisition. “Norman Hetherington’s work has touched the lives of many and will continue to inspire through his legacy preserved here. The collection showcases his extraordinary blend of artistic flair and technical prowess.”

As part of the initial unveiling, Mr Squiggle and Rocket will be exhibited from 29 April to 16 May 2024. The museum is also planning a more extensive exhibition that will include a wider array of characters from the beloved series, promising an immersive experience into the whimsical world Norman Hetherington created.

This event not only celebrates a remarkable figure in Australian television but also enriches the cultural landscape, offering new generations the chance to experience the joy and creativity that Mr Squiggle brought into homes for many years. The museum’s dedication to preserving and sharing this collection underscores its commitment to celebrating Australia’s rich artistic heritage.

Collection highlights

  • The complete set of puppets from Mr Squiggle and Friends, including Mr Squiggle, Blackboard, Bill Steamshovel, Gus the Snail and Rocket, and those from the first show in July 1959.
  • Scripts and squiggles from Mr Squiggle’s 40-year run.
  • The Nicky and Noodle string puppets, which appeared as part of the first broadcast of ABC TV on 5 November 1956.

Norman Hetherington

  • Generations of Australian children were delighted and inspired to draw by Mr Squiggle, the star of one of the nation’s longest running and most beloved television series, and thousands more were entertained by Hetherington’s theatrical performances, television productions and live puppet shows.
  • In 1942 Hetherington enlisted in the Second Australian Imperial Force, where he joined the Army Entertainment Unit as a performer and cartoonist.
  • He worked as a cartoonist at the Bulletin from 1945–1961.
  • He was born into a Methodist family and became involved in creating a variety of performances with the Methodist Order of Knights from 1948–1951.
  • He worked as a designer and illustrator from the late 1940s onwards, producing freelance pieces for clients such as the Bank of New South Wales, the University of Sydney and the Australian Puppetry Guild.
  • Hetherington had a long-standing interest in puppetry and working at the Bulletin as a cartoonist gave him the creative space and freedom to pursue this interest. He built his knowledge and connections with the Clovelly Puppet Theatre from 1952.
  • He went on to create, produce and perform his own puppet shows in theatres, department stores and preschools around Australia, including at the Sydney Opera House.
  • Hetherington was creating puppets and doing puppet shows around Sydney when a director of the ABC TV Training School saw one of his shows and asked him to join the school. He continued working at the Bulletin and doing puppet shows around Sydney while also working at the training school, preparing for the introduction of television and the beginning of ABC TV. Nicky and Noodle were part of his original retinue of puppets and appeared on the opening night of ABC TV on 5 November 1956.
  • He became the inaugural president of the Australian Puppetry Guild when it was founded in 1969.
  • He created and performed puppets for other television shows including Pinocchio, Blinky Bill, Skippy and Playschool.
  • He created Mr Squiggle and Friends. The show first aired on 1 July 1959 and ran for 40 years, with its final episode airing on 9 July 1999.
  • He completed over 10,000 drawings during his 40-year run with Mr Squiggle, with many of them being completed upside down.
  • In addition to Mr Squiggle, Hetherington created, performed and voiced all the characters that appeared in the show, including Rocket, Blackboard, Bill Steamshovel and Gus the Snail.
  • Hetherington and his wife, Margaret, who wrote scripts for the shows, received several honours and awards for their work on Australian television. In 1984 and 1989 they received a Penguin Award from the Television Society of Australia ‘for their outstanding contribution to children’s television’. In 1989 Hetherington received a signed artist’s smock from the Australian Cartoonists Association when he was awarded life membership, and in 2009 was honoured with the Jim Russell Award for his outstanding contribution to Australian cartooning.
  • In 1990 Hetherington was awarded a Medal of the Order of Australia ‘for service to children’s television programs and puppetry’.
  • The Norman Hetherington collection at the National Museum of Australia includes costumes, props, sets, scripts, artworks, designs, cartoons, promotional material and awards associated with all these aspects of his life and career.
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