Mosman’s Mr Squiggle lands at the National Museum of Australia for a flying three-week visit.

By ANNA USHER

Mr Squiggle, the Mosman-born pencil-nosed puppet and star of the ABC children’s show adored by generations, has landed in Canberra for a brief visit to the National Museum of Australia.

He and friends Blackboard, Bill Steamshovel, Gus the Snail and Rocket are on display until May 16, along with more than 800 related objects including scripts, artworks, costumes, props, sets and production notes from the iconic series.

Brought to life by Mosman puppeteer and cartoonist Norman Hetherington, Mr Squiggle captured the hearts and imaginations of Australian children for 40 years, after making his debut in 1959.

Mr Hetherington, who died in 2010, completed over 10,000 drawings during his time with Mr Squiggle, many of them upside down.

His daughter Rebecca, who was presenter for the last 10 years of the show said her father’s home studio on Sirius Cove Rd remained intact following his death, until the property was sold for $4.62m last year.

“To us, Squiggle was a member of the family, he was not a puppet,” she said. “Squiggle and my father were almost interchangeable. He really loved Mr Squiggle because he always wanted to be a cartoonist and in Mr Squiggle his cartoons became three-dimensional and came to life, and that really took my father’s fancy.

“My father was one of a kind. He combined unceasing artistic energy and creativity with technical ingenuity, an amazing work ethic, whimsy, kindness, humour and a wonderful imagination.”

In a 2005 interview ahead of a special Mosman Art Gallery exhibition, Mr Hetherington spoke of his love for the local area, which developed after purchasing his Sirius Cove residence with wife Margaret.

Mr Squiggle: “Who’s Pulling the Strings” Interview by Mosman Art Gallery – September 2005.

Q. How long have you lived in Mosman?
A. Since 1960.

Q. What do you enjoy most about living here?
A. Ferry travel.

Q. Where did you study to be an artist?

A. At the National Art School, Darlinghurst.

Q. How would you describe Mosman to a visitor?

A. Real Australian bush and only 15 minutes from the heart of a great city.

Q. What is your earliest recollection of Mosman?
A. How neat everyone’s garden was in regard to ours (it’s still like that).

Q. What is your favourite corner of Mosman?
A. My studio

Q. What books are you reading at the moment?
A. “The Master Puppeteer’ by Katherine Paterson. Picked up at the last Mosman Book Fair. It’s an old American kid’s book and a terrific read.

Q. What kind of music do you listen to?
A. The Dr Who theme.

Q. Which living person do you most admire?

A. My wife because if I don’t say this she’ll never speak to me again.

Q. Which event in your life is your most treasured?

A. Working with Norman Lindsay at ‘The Bulletin’ in the 1940’s and 50’s

Q. Besides your art, which talent would you like to possess?

A. Answering the telephone and managing to sound reasonably intelligent.

Q. What motto do you live by?
A. Puppets are fun.

Q. Which words do you most over use?

A. It’s not my turn to answer the telephone.

Q. How are Mr Squiggle, Blackboard and Rocket enjoying retirement?
A. They are not retired yet. They are busy helping me with etchings I’m doing at COFA (College of Fine Arts, Paddington).

Mr Squiggle and Rocket will be on show at the National Museum from April 29 with a larger exhibition featuring more of Mr Squiggle’s friends in development.