simply magical...

it caught my attention earlier in the week when i heard of the death  of norman hetherington, puppeteer and creator of mr squiggle - one of australia's longest running childrens television programs... ohhh such childhood memories he helped create – magical moments of a black and white era of visual wonders - a very different technological world to now…

it was a time when simple pleasures exhilarated a child… mr squiggle entered our lives in 1959 (television only began transmission here in 1956!) – i was 4 years old – i was enthralled by this moon-dwelling marionette with a pencil nose who arrived in a rocket - and the grumpy talking blackboard used as an easel by mr squiggle... and of course the presenters - always female (obviously more empathetic to other-worldly beings!!!) - one of the longest stints being patricia lovell - 'miss pat' from 1960-1975...

i was totally mesmerised by that pencil nose and how quickly a few squiggles could be turned into a wonderful work of art (like i said, i was 4 – and i didn’t know someone else was pulling the strings!!)

simplicity is enduring though – after 40 years in production mr squiggle only ended in 1999 - although its black and white mystique was replaced by colour in the 70s, i guess it still held a unique appeal for kids...

it was a real family affair - margaret, norman's life companion and business partner, wrote the scripts, while he operated and voiced the puppets, with daughter rebecca a puppeteering assistant in the 80s and presenter in the 90s... here's a clip from a 1996 television report - a mini documentary about the beginnings and making of mr squiggle... enjoy...

and congratulations to larry the librarian and partner who have recently adopted lovely lottie - i certainly hope to meet her in the near future...