Everyone's favourite man from the moon touched down at Newcastle Museum today as part of a new exhibition filled with creativity, nostalgia and 'lots of fun for everyone'.
Newcastle is the first stop on a national tour for Mr Squiggle and Friends: The Creative World of Norman Hetherington.
Newcastle Lord Mayor Gavin Morris, City of Newcastle Head of Exhibitions & Cultural Collections David Hampton, National Museum of Australia curator Nicole McLennan and Mr Squiggle's last on-air companion Rebecca Hetherington take a sneak peek at the Mr Squiggle and Friends exhibition as it is being installed at Newcastle Museum.
The National Museum of Australia exhibition celebrates the man behind one of the most-loved children's characters on Australian television, and his legacy as a wartime entertainer, cartoonist, artist, performer and puppeteer.
Mr Squiggle captivated and inspired generations of children to draw, with his distinctive pencil for a nose, charming banter and ability to turn a simple squiggle into a masterpiece.
Hetherington's work also inspired the career of Newcastle-born entertainer and puppeteer Murray Raine, who donated around 20 of his own marionettes to Newcastle Museum last year.
A selection of these is being presented in a separate exhibition, Murray Raine's Marvellous Marionettes, to coincide with the Mr Squiggle show.
City of Newcastle's Director of Museum, Archive, Libraries and Learning, Julie Baird, said the exhibitions provide insights into creativity to inspire young and old alike.
"These exhibitions are exciting for Newcastle Museum as they are not just about nostalgic memories, they're about joy and empowering visitors to explore their own creativity without judgement," Ms Baird said.
"Mr Squiggle tells people that they can, and that spirit was what Norman Hetherington, Mr. Squiggle's creator, passed on to Murray Raine.
"Together, the exhibitions highlight Newcastle's connection to broader Australian stories, from Murray Raine's early inspirations in Newcastle, to his collaboration with Norman Hetherington and performances on a global stage.
"They trace the origins and careers of two of Australia's great puppeteers and invite visitors to get up close to the characters they brought to life."
Mr Squiggle and Friends explores Hetherington's whimsy, humour and talent. It takes visitors behind the scenes to experience hand-crafted puppets as well as wartime artworks and colourful stage props.
Visitors of all ages can explore their own creativity via an interactive 'squiggle' drawing experience within the exhibition, while Newcastle Museum will also host a series of hands-on workshops inspired by Mr Squiggle throughout the July school holidays.
National Museum of Australia Director Katherine McMahon said the show provides the opportunity for parents and grandparents who grew up with Mr Squiggle to introduce the next generation to this adored TV character.
"Who can forget the man from the moon, aka Mr Squiggle, who entertained us with his
upside-down sketches?" Ms McMahon said.
"Now he and his friends, Blackboard, Rocket, Bill Steamshovel and Gus the Snail, are back to
star in this new show.
"We are thrilled to be sharing this delightful part of Australia's television history with the rest
of the country."
Mr Squiggle and Friends was a family affair on ABC TV. While Norman voiced and made all the characters, his wife, Margaret, eventually took over scriptwriting, and his daughter, Rebecca, was Mr Squiggle's last on-screen companion (1989-99). Puppeteering remains a family tradition as Norman's grandson, Tom has followed in his footsteps.
"My father was incessantly creative. He never stopped thinking about what he could do to entertain people," Ms Hetherington said.
"He was wildly imaginative but always with a deep sense of purpose and direction."
Entertainment and imagination are also at the heart of Murray Raine's career.
Inspired at the age of six by a puppet show he saw at Waratah Infants School, Raine later became one of Australia's youngest professionally paid puppeteers and went on to have a successful career in Australia and internationally.
He was mentored by Norman Hetherington and collaborated with him on a number of puppets, with the pair developing a lifelong friendship.
"Both Norman and I had a similar outlook to building and performing puppets. We had a simple rule: make it fun," Raine said.
"The exhibition captures the fun of puppetry. Visitors to the exhibition will be impressed by Norman's oeuvre and the legacy he has provided to aspiring performers in all fields.
"The puppets from my collection are different in style and created for a different type of performance, but visitors will connect with the creativity and evolving nature of creating and putting on a show."
Mr Squiggle and Friends: The Creative World of Norman Hetherington and Murray Raine's Marvellous Marionettes are both open from Saturday 4 July until Sunday 1 November 2026. Entry is free.
Mr Squiggle and Friends is a travelling exhibition developed by the National Museum of Australia with thanks to the generosity of Rebecca Hetherington and her family and support from the National Collecting Institutions Touring and Outreach Program.
Newcastle Museum is supported by Create NSW.
