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Thirty five years ago a 12-year-old boy in Newcastle wrote to Norman, not really expecting a reply from such a prominent person. (The boy was already a member of the Puppetry Guild of which Norman was President.) He asked how to go about stringing a marionette for a trapeze act. A reply came with a detailed drawing, alternative methods of stringing, references for further research, hints from personal experience and it was signed “All the best, NH”. The puppet’s construction began that afternoon. That boy, Murray Raine, became a very successful puppeteer and as an adult struck up a close friendship with Norman who became a mentor. A week before Norman died Murray was at his bedside getting advice on his latest puppet. Murray’s raunchy cabaret marionettes, decked out in feathers and sequins, were hardly what Mr Squiggle would have been used to on the Moon, but with a few quick swirls of a pencil Norman captured the mood with designs for Murray’s sexy divas . As he often said: “You never know what you can do until you try!” Murray regrets that he can’t be here today. But this very night puppets designed by Norman Hetherington will be performing on a cruise ship which left Sydney on Friday. The East Sydney Tech where he first trained has become the National Art School and just last month a plate he had recently designed, which featured Mr Squiggle, was in the annual plate auction to raise funds. Some years ago Norman went to COFA, the UNSW College of Fine Arts, to further his already considerable skills in etching. There, in 2005, he received the Dean’s Award for Excellence. Norman was valued and admired by puppeteers, not only here in Australia but internationally. He inspired us all and was a good friend. In 2008 he was made a Member of Honour at the 20 th congress of UNIMA, the international association of puppeteers which, by happy chance, was held in Perth, only the third occasion outside Europe. There was an exhibition of Mr Squiggle and Friends at Perthʼs Public Library. Tributes have already come from puppeteers in England, and North America and his death has been top news on UNIMAʼs international website. Ronnie Burkett , the Canadian puppeteer who performed at the Opera House last year, has written: “Looking at photos today, I'm reminded how fresh and vibrant his puppet design sense was.” He was not only ranked at the top by fellow puppeteers. In 2008 he was made a life member of the Australian Cartoonistsʼ association and last year was given a standing ovation when presented with their Jim Russell Award at Darling Harbour. 20 years ago he received an OAM, the Medal of the Order of Australia, for his services to puppetry and to Australian television. Did I just hear “Hurry Up”? Norman had a rich and rewarding life, full of fun. Fun was paramount. He brought smiles to thousands ... millions ... of faces. Even with Smileyʼs Good Teeth Puppet Theatre for the Dental Health Foundation, which he created with Margaret in 1968 and which toured schools for 17 years. These last weeks have not been fun, not for Norman, nor for his devoted family, and especially not for Margaret and Rebecca. But now let us be grateful and happy that he brought so much joy to so many people as we remember Norman Hetherington, a great Australian. Richard Bradshaw OAM Awards 1984 “Penguin Award” for Childrenʼs Television Personalities. Television Society of Australia. Received award again in 1989 1990: Awarded OAM for services to puppetry and Australian television. 2002: Presented with UNIMA Australiaʼs Lifetime Achievement Award at UNIMA National Puppetry Summit Above: (L - R) Ronnie Burkett, Murray Raine and Norman Hetherington backstage 14th October ʼ09 at ʻBilly Twinkleʼ, Sydney Opera House. Photo by Neil Ray reproduced from ʻAustralian Puppeteerʼ ʼ09 Left: Sculpture of Norman Hetherington on UNIMA Lifetime Achievement Award sculpted by Julia Davis 2005: Presented with Deanʼs Award for Excellence in Art, Design and Education (College of Fine Arts, UNSW, for contribution to the medial 2008: Member of Honour at 20th International UNIMA Congress and Pestival, Perth. 2008: Australian Cartoonistʼs Associationʼs Jim Russell Award.
Publications 1974 Puppets of Australia written by Norman and wife Margaret for the Australia Council Below: Book produced by Mosman Art Gallery for Norman Hetherington retrospective exhibition 2005 1980 Mr Squiggle and the Great Moon Robbery written and illustrated by Norman and wife Margaret. Published by ABC Books. 1988 Hand Shadows written and illustrated by Norman and wife Margaret. Published by Angus & Robertson. 1992 Mr. Squiggle and the Preposterous Purple Crocodile written and illustrated by Norman and wife Margaret. Published by ABC books Right: Cover of Hand Shadows 1988 The following is a tribute from Jennifer Pfeiffer, President of UNIMA Australia. Norman Hetherington was the founding president of UNIMA Australia in 1970 We celebrate the life of Mr Norman Hetherington, who passed away after a long illness on Monday 6 December. Norman was most remembered for his pioneering work in Australian television with his show based on his puppet character Mr Squiggle. Mr Squiggle first appeared in the late 50s, and which several generations of Australian children grew up with, being broadcast for over 42 years!. Squiggle has a pencil for a nose and changed scribbles sent in by viewers into recognisable and mostly humorous drawings. Sometimes Squiggle drew sideways or upside-down. Norman was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia in 1990 for service to children's television programs and puppetry. He was a man whose involvement with puppetry was always motivated by a sense of fun and good humour. http://www.youtube.com/v/2u74YGPQCHA?fs Norman was also very active in the formation of the UNIMA Australia Centre in its early years, and worked to encourage young performers, inspired them and set a benchmark for excellence. He was president of the Puppetry Guild of NSW, which later changed to the Puppetry Guild of Australia, of which he was the NSW branch president, and was later president of UNIMA Australia (1970-1984). He was a co-convenor of the original UNIMA Australia Scholarship to assist emerging puppeteers, and who was honoured at the UNIMA World Congress in Perth 2008, being bestowed Member of Honour. Jennifer Jennifer Pfeiffer International Executive UNIMA (Union Internationale de la Marionette) President UNIMA Asia-Pacific Commission President UNIMA Australia The UNIMA Australia logo was designed by Norman Hetherington
Page 1 and 2: Issue Nø 11 December, 2010 O P e N
Page 3: During the War Norman would contrib
Page 7 and 8: To speak of Norman’s cartoonist s
Page 9 and 10: Whatʼs On - January Dream Puppets
Page 11 and 12: From Tehran To Torrensville Puppet
Page 13 and 14: Where is Kassius? He’s back! Waff

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