''Ginger Meggs'', Australia's most popular and longest-running
comic strip
A comic strip is a sequence of drawings, often cartoons, arranged in interrelated panels to display brief humor or form a narrative, often serialized, with text in balloons and captions. Traditionally, throughout the 20th and into the 21st ...
, was created in the early 1920s by
Jimmy Bancks
James Charles Bancks (10 May 1889 – 1 July 1952) was an Australian cartoonist best known for his comic strip ''Ginger Meggs''.
Biography
James Charles Bancks was born in Enmore, New South Wales, Australia on 10 May 1889, the son of an Irish ...
. The strip follows the escapades of a red-haired prepubescent mischief-maker who lives in an inner suburban working-class household. While employed at ''The Bulletin'', Bancks submitted cartoons to the ''Sydney Sunday Sun'', where he began his ''Us Fellers'' strip in 1921 in the "Sunbeams" section of the ''Sunday Sun''. Ginger first appeared in ''Us Fellers'' on 13 November 1921, drawn by Bancks. When Bancks died on 1 July 1952 from a heart attack,
Ron Vivian took over the strip (1953–1973), followed by
Lloyd Piper (1973–1982),
James Kemsley
James Lawrence Kemsley OAM (15 November 1948 – 3 December 2007) was an Australian cartoonist who was notable for producing the comic strip ''Ginger Meggs'' (originally created by Jimmy Bancks) between 1984 and 2007.
Early life
James Kemsl ...
(1983–2007), and
Jason Chatfield
Jason Chatfield (born 1984) is an Australian cartoonist and stand-up comedian, based in New York City. At 23 he became Australia's most widely syndicated cartoonist, appearing daily in over 120 newspapers in 34 countries. His art spans the disc ...
since 2007.
Publication history
Bancks created, wrote, drew, and syndicated ''Ginger Meggs'' from 1921 until 1952, when he died unexpectedly of a heart attack. After Bancks's death, there was a year's worth of strips to run while another artist was found.
Ron Vivian wrote and drew ''Ginger Meggs'' from 1953 until 1973.
Lloyd Piper wrote and drew ''Ginger Meggs'' from 1973 until 1983, when he died in a car accident.
James Kemsley
James Lawrence Kemsley OAM (15 November 1948 – 3 December 2007) was an Australian cartoonist who was notable for producing the comic strip ''Ginger Meggs'' (originally created by Jimmy Bancks) between 1984 and 2007.
Early life
James Kemsl ...
wrote, drew and syndicated ''Ginger Meggs'' from 1984–2007. On 3 December 2007, Kemsley died at Bowral Hospital. In the 2008 Queen's Birthday Honour lists, the Australian Government posthumously recognised Kemsley for his efforts with the
Medal of the Order of Australia
The Order of Australia is an honour that recognises Australian citizens and other persons for outstanding achievement and service. It was established on 14 February 1975 by Elizabeth II, Queen of Australia, on the advice of the Australian Gove ...
.
Jason Chatfield has written and drawn ''Ginger Meggs'' since 2007.
The strip remains the most widely syndicated Australian comic strip today, appearing in over 120 newspapers in 34 countries. In 1997, a park in Valley Road, Hornsby, was officially named Ginger Meggs Park. Bancks had spent much time in the area during his childhood.
In September 2022, News Corporation removed all daily comic strips from their publications across Australia. Ginger Meggs ceased appearing in print as a daily strip as of 12 September. It remains to be published online at GoComics and across social media channels.
Commemoratives
In 1985, a
postage stamp
A postage stamp is a small piece of paper issued by a post office, postal administration, or other authorized vendors to customers who pay postage (the cost involved in moving, insuring, or registering mail), who then affix the stamp to the fa ...
honouring Ginger or his creator was issued by
Australia Post
Australia Post, formally the Australian Postal Corporation, is the government business enterprise that provides postal services in Australia. The head office of Australia Post is located in Bourke Street, Melbourne, which also serves as a post o ...
as part of a set of five commemorating children's books.
On 1 July 2011, the Perth Mint released a commemorative 1oz Silver Australian $1 coin to celebrate the 90th anniversary of ''Ginger Meggs''. The coin features an homage to James C. Bancks' 1945 Sunbeams Annual (Series 22) cover, which featured Ginger Meggs on the back of a kangaroo with his dog, Mike and his pet monkey, Tony. The obverse portrays the Ian Rank-Broadley effigy of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, the 2011 year-date and is issued as legal tender under the Australian Currency Act 1965.
The coin was designed by current Ginger Meggs cartoonist, Jason Chatfield.
On 4 May 2021, to commemorate the 100th Anniversary of the first appearance of Ginger Meggs, a book was published by
Penguin Random House
Penguin Random House LLC is an Anglo-American multinational corporation, multinational conglomerate (company), conglomerate publishing company formed on July 1, 2013, from the merger of Penguin Group and Random House.
On April 2, 2020, Bertels ...
. The 4-story novelisation was authored by
Tristan Bancks
Tristan Bancks (21 December 1974) is an Australian children's and teen's author, with a background in filmmaking and acting. As an actor, he is known for his role as Tug O'Neale on ''Home and Away'' between 1992-1994.
Biography
Bancks trained ...
, the great-great grand nephew of Ginger Meggs creator,
Jimmy Bancks
James Charles Bancks (10 May 1889 – 1 July 1952) was an Australian cartoonist best known for his comic strip ''Ginger Meggs''.
Biography
James Charles Bancks was born in Enmore, New South Wales, Australia on 10 May 1889, the son of an Irish ...
, and was illustrated by current Ginger Meggs cartoonist
Jason Chatfield
Jason Chatfield (born 1984) is an Australian cartoonist and stand-up comedian, based in New York City. At 23 he became Australia's most widely syndicated cartoonist, appearing daily in over 120 newspapers in 34 countries. His art spans the disc ...
.
On 2 June 2021, to commemorate the 100th Anniversary of the first appearance of Ginger Meggs, The
Royal Australian Mint
The Royal Australian Mint is the sole producer of all of Australia's circulating coins and is a Commonwealth Government entity operating within the portfolio of the Treasury. The Mint is situated in the Australian federal capital city of Canberr ...
released a series of commemorative Australian $1 coins with Ginger Meggs designs from 1921 and 2021. The obverse portrays the Ian Rank-Broadley effigy of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, the 2021 year-date and is issued as legal tender under the Australian Currency Act 1965.
On 7 September 2021, to commemorate the 100th Anniversary of the first appearance of Ginger Meggs, a series of stamps was released by
Australia Post
Australia Post, formally the Australian Postal Corporation, is the government business enterprise that provides postal services in Australia. The head office of Australia Post is located in Bourke Street, Melbourne, which also serves as a post o ...
. Ginger Meggs appears not just in the stamp designs but also in a host of philatelic products, including a minisheet, stamp pack, first day cover, a maxicard set and two stamp and coin covers, housing coins produced by the
Royal Australian Mint
The Royal Australian Mint is the sole producer of all of Australia's circulating coins and is a Commonwealth Government entity operating within the portfolio of the Treasury. The Mint is situated in the Australian federal capital city of Canberr ...
.
In other media
Film
''Ginger Meggs'' is a 1982 Australian film based on the comic strip, starring
Garry McDonald
Garry George McDonald AO (born 30 October 1948) is an Australian actor, satirist and comedian. In a career spanning five decades he has had many theatre, television and film roles, and has been listed as a National Living Treasure. He is bes ...
and
Drew Forsythe
Drew Forsythe (born 23 August 1949) is an Australian actor, singer, writer, and comedian. He has appeared on film, stage, and television, as well as in satirical sketch comedy television programs.
Early life
Born in Sydney, New South Wales, F ...
.
[David Stratton, ''The Avocado Plantation: Boom and Bust in the Australian Film Industry'', Pan MacMillan, 1990 p343-344]
The film was criticised for including rock songs on the soundtrack.
Stage musical
''Ginger Meggs'' was also adapted into a stage musical which has been running since the early 1990s, distributed by David Spicer Productions.
Songs
"Ginger Meggs: The Sunbeams Song"music by Henry T. Hayes and Billy Edwards (c1923)
Ginger Meggs/ words and music by Jack O'Hagan
* ''Just a Little Ginger Headed Feller'', words and music by Mary Brett, arranged by Tom Davidson (1938)
Bibliography
*
A birthday celebration for Ginger Meggs: congratulations to the little Aussie battler', by Robert Holden (1986)
*
The comic adventures of Ginger Meggs', created by
Jimmy Bancks
James Charles Bancks (10 May 1889 – 1 July 1952) was an Australian cartoonist best known for his comic strip ''Ginger Meggs''.
Biography
James Charles Bancks was born in Enmore, New South Wales, Australia on 10 May 1889, the son of an Irish ...
, written and drawn by
James Kemsley
James Lawrence Kemsley OAM (15 November 1948 – 3 December 2007) was an Australian cartoonist who was notable for producing the comic strip ''Ginger Meggs'' (originally created by Jimmy Bancks) between 1984 and 2007.
Early life
James Kemsl ...
(1986, )
*
Further adventures of Ginger Meggs'
*
Ginger Meggs and Herbert the billy goat'
*
Ginger Meggs and the country cousin'
*
Ginger Meggs annual'
*
Ginger Meggs at large: based on the stories and characters of Bancks'
*
Ginger Meggs', created by
Jimmy Bancks
James Charles Bancks (10 May 1889 – 1 July 1952) was an Australian cartoonist best known for his comic strip ''Ginger Meggs''.
Biography
James Charles Bancks was born in Enmore, New South Wales, Australia on 10 May 1889, the son of an Irish ...
, written & drawn by Kemsley
*
Ginger Meggs' lucky break'
*
Ginger Meggs meets the test', written by Bill Peach, illustrated by Dan Russell (19765, )
References
External links
Ginger Meggsat Go Comics
www.gingermeggs.com ''Ginger Meggs'' history"Ginger Meggs film"at Oz Movies
''Ginger Meggs''at
IMDb
IMDb (an abbreviation of Internet Movie Database) is an online database of information related to films, television series, home videos, video games, and streaming content online – including cast, production crew and personal biographies, ...
{{Universal Press Syndicate
Australian comic strips
Gag-a-day comics
Children's comics
1921 comics debuts
Meggs, Ginger
Meggs, Ginger
Meggs, Ginger
Meggs, Ginger
Meggs, Ginger
Australian comics adapted into films
Comics adapted into plays
1980s English-language films