Norman Hetherington's creation Mr Squiggle (a puppet who lives on the moon) has inspired generations of Australian children with a sense of wonder. Science fiction fans gave him an award for "contributing to a sense of wonder" in recognition of his work, something that very much surprised him.
When the U.S. landed on the moon, Squiggle went to air complaining about the intrusion. Sadly, neither Festivale nor the curator of the Performing Arts Museum were able to discover an existing copy of that historic transmission.
Has your interaction with fans, for example, at conventions, affected your work?
Not directly. Until Terry Dowling approached me I hadn't thought of Squiggle as being connected with the science fiction thing. We did consider changing his domicile when they (the U.S.) landed on the moon.
Is there any particular incident (a letter, a meeting, a comment that stands out?
Do you have a favourite author or book (or writer or film or series) that has influenced you or that you return to?
I go in for humour, having been a cartoonist.
Kermit the frog.
Who would you most DISlike to be trapped in a lift with?
Gus the Snail.
What would you pack for space? (Is there a food, beverage, book, teddy bear, etc that you couldn't do without?)
Squiggle. Being a squiggle he would be useful.
What is the most important thing you would like to get/achieve from your work?
I just don't call it work. I just have fun.
What is the special satisfaction of your work?
Having fun and getting the reactions from the children who write in, they have fun standing on their heads and working out what he (Squiggle) is drawing.
Published in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia 
Last updated: 01-Jul-2010