Ji) AUSTR5 AL
PRIME MINISTER
EMBARGOED UNTIL DELIVERY CHECK AGAINST DELIVERY
SPEECH BY THE PRIME MINISTER
INAUGURAL BULLETIN BLACK AND WHITE ARTISTS AWARDS
1 NOVEMBER 1985 SYDNEY
Mr and Mrs Kennedy, Honoured Guests,
I very much appreciate the opportunity to be here tonight
for this, the inaugural national awards for australian
cartooning, sponsored by " the bulletin" and named in honour
of the great Stan Cross.
I say I appreciate the opportunity because, at the very
least, being here tonight gives me the chance to turn the
spot-light on to a few of those who have so unkindly, and
terribly unreasonably put me in the spot-light
over the last few years.
I understand that in the audience tonight are, for a start,
the cartoonists from most of the major metropolitan dailies.
excellent. I can expect to see blank spots next to the
editorial columns tomorrow.
As a politician, most interest for me tonight extends to-the
award for the best political cartoon. because I'm not a
financial member of the black and white artists, I'm not
eligible to vote. Although, since I feature so much in your
work, perhaps you should give me honorary membership.
of course, if I, had that membership, I might be more
inclined to vote for an artist there must be some around
who spends more time analysing the obvious deficiencies of
some of my esteemed opponents, than on noting any passing
foibles on the part of me or my colleagues.
AS I say, political cartooning is the area of principal
interest for me.
Cartoonists have developed their talents in the field of
political analysis for hundreds of years. In Australia, we
have been particularly blessed or cursed, depending on
your perspective with a long history of biting, satirical
political commentary in the form of cartoons. One cartoon
can leave an impact more potent and longer lasting than a
1,000 words.
Since 1855, with the arrival of " Melbourne Punch",
Australians have been offered incisive social commentary by
a vast range of black-and-white artists, enlivened by the
wit of a brash new colonial culture.
The pace of Australian cartooning picked up further with the
advent of " The Bulletin" in 1880.
There could be no more appropriate sponsor for tonight's
awards than " The Bulletin". Its association with the cream
of australia's literary and drawing talent extends over more
than a century, and has been described accurately, in my
view-as providing the literary genesis for a substantial
part of Australia's national culture.
The famous black-and-white artists of early " Bulletin"
history are legendary figures in the history of Australian
drawings and cartoons. Livingstone Hopkins or " Hop" as he
was known to many Phil May, Will Dyson, Norman Lindsay,
and the great david low all received their early chance at
success, and the basis for illustrious careers, from " The
Bulletin" In later years, others arose to take their place including
of course, Stan Cross whose classic sketch forms the
physical representation of tonight's awards.
Stan Cross is probably best known for " The Potts" family, a
series which continues even today, a testament to Stan
cross' judgement of the humour which appeals to all
Australians. his " Dad and Dave" works, during the
depression years, their bittersweet humour an accurate
reflection of the times, they live on today untarnished by
time.
And later of course, " Wally and the Major", commenced early
in World War II, became an institution for Australian
newspaper readers.
3
The famous sketch which is physically represented in
tonights' awards is rightly recognised as encapsulating all
the essential elements of genuine wit as it has developed
uniquely in Australia. Although it first appeared over
years ago, this classic scene of two of Australia's early
larrikin construction workers, dangling precariously and
without ceremony or safety from the beams of a
partly-completed skyscraper, retains its full measure of
humour and social commentary today. ( perhaps they were
hanging up a Eureka Flag). that the humour of the piece
exceeds its social commentary is perhaps a further apt
comment on the Australian ethos. We admire most in
ourselves the ability to recognise the humour of a
situation, even in adversity.
The issues of the day in Australian cartooning have varied
little over the period since this sketch was first published
in 1933: pollution, corruption, women's liberation,
immigration, sport and of course politicians have all stood
the test of time and remain as much with us today as they
were then.
And the talent of Australian cartoonists, with their sharp
pencils and sharper wits, exposing the pomposity,
self-delusion and plain bad judgement which so often has
characterised debate on questions such as these remains with
us also.
I have no doubt that the recipients of awards here tonight,
and indeed all members of the Black-and-White Artists' Club,
will maintain the high standard established by their
illustrious predecessors, encouraged by the judgement of
their peers on occasions such as this.
It is now my great pleasure to open these envelopes
containing the winners' names and to present the awards.