''Shirl's Neighbourhood'' was an Australian afternoon children's television series aired on the

Seven Network The Seven Network (commonly known as Channel Seven or simply Seven) is a major Australian commercial free-to-air television network. It is owned by Seven West Media Limited, and is one of five main free-to-air television networks in Australia ...

between 1979 and 1983. The half-hour show featured former Skyhooks frontman Graeme "Shirley" Strachan and co-host Liz Rule alongside a cast of characters including Norm The Kangaroo, Ol' Possum, Claude The Crow, Stanley The Snake, Greenfinger the Garden Gnome, Yippee the Bunyip, Bartholomew the Sheep and a band of monkeys.

Franciscus Henri Franciscus Henricus Antheunis, professionally known as Franciscus Henri (born 7 August 1947, The Hague, The Netherlands), is a musician and children's entertainer. He has dual Dutch and Australian nationality. In 1970 he gained national promine ...

appeared in the show as a regular, both as himself presenting musical segments and as "Professor Henri" in comical sketches. He left the show in October 1980. Norm the Kangaroo was played by Don Bridges.Don Bridges
/ref> The other characters were puppets created and brought to life by

Ron Mueck Hans Ronald Mueck ( or /ˈmuːɪk/; born 1958) is an Australian sculptor working in the United Kingdom. Biography Born in 1958 to German parents in Melbourne, Australia, Ron Mueck grew up in the family business of puppetry and doll-making. He ...

Production

Shirl's Neighbourhood was produced by Jenifer Hooks and Richard Bence of Puppetstuff. It ran from 1979 till 1983 and clocked up over 900 episodes. Jenifer Hooks later went on to head Film Victoria and Cinemedia. The show was very popular with kids and adults alike. This was due mainly to the character of Claude the Crow. Claude had a slightly more cynical view of the world than the other characters, and adults could identify with this.

References

{{reflist ;Notes
National Film and Sound Archive – Bulletin 2

External links

Photograph of "Shirl" and "Norm the Kangaroo" (Monash University Archives)Darrin's Shirl's Neighbourhood Shrine Shirl's Neighbourhood at the National Film and Sound Archive
1979 Australian television series debuts 1983 Australian television series endings Australian television shows featuring puppetry Television shows set in Melbourne Australian children's television series Australian preschool education television series Seven Network original programming