The beloved children’s television puppet Mr Squiggle, and his friends Blackboard, Rocket, Bill Steamshovel and Gus the Snail have been acquired by the National Museum of Australia in Canberra. Mr Squiggle made his debut on Australian television 65 years ago. The original Mr Squiggle marionette and other objects, including fellow puppets, artworks, scripts, costumes, props, sets, production notes, merchandise and audio-visual material is now housed at the Museum. The show aired until 1999 and over the years was originally black and white until colour television arrived. Mr Squiggle entertained children by turning the ‘squiggles’ he would be sent in from around the country into pictures, with the help of his friend Blackboard. Created by Norman Hetherington, the collection is a significant addition to the National Historical Collection. Norman’s daughter Rebecca Hetherington, known to children as ‘Miss Rebecca’ was the last presenter on the show and decided to hand over the collection to the Museum.

Special guest at Narrabri Anzac Day services was Chief Petty Officer Mark Gibbs. CPO Gibbs has now attended 40 Anzac commemorations. Last year he was in New Zealand’s South Island and participated in an Anzac ceremony there and has taken part in services on land in other countries and at sea aboard HMAS Choules. That was a dawn service for the crew in the middle of the ocean, including a ‘gunfire breakfast’, which apparently in Navy tradition means a tot of rum is available along with bacon and eggs and other breakfast fare.

On this day in 1873 explorer William Grosse left Alice Springs on an expedition, during which he discovers Ayers Rock. William, of the South Australian Survey department, became the first European explorer to see Ayers Rock, quite by accident. He had to find water for his camels so took a more southerly course than he had originally planned and came across Ayers Rock recording that: “This rock is certainly the most wonderful natural feature I have even seen”. Ayers Rock was named after the former Premier of South Australia, Sir Henry Ayers. It is now known by its native name of Uluru.