The Australian Cartoonists' Association (ACA) is the Australian professional cartoonists' organisation and was established on 17 July 1924 as the Society of Australian Black and White Artists. It was the first association of newspaper artists in the world.
It soon became The Black and White Artists Society; and, by 1938, its name had been changed to The Black and White Artists Club.Sydney Morning Herald 6 August 1938 By 1939, it had a sketching division and an etching division.Black and White Artists, The Sydney Morning Herald, 31 July 1939, p.12.
In 2024, a collection of artworks were put on display in the exhibit "A Century of Satire" at State Library of New South Wales to celebrate 100 years since the Black & White Artists Club began.
First clubrooms The Association's first clubrooms were at 250 George Street, Sydney.Sydney Morning Herald 16 February 1939
Founding members Founding members were Reg Russom, Unk White, George Finey, Syd Nicholls, Jack Quayle, John Wiseman, Jack Baird, Joe Jonsson, Cyril Samuels, Frank Jessop, Brodie Mack, Mick Paul, Harry J Weston, Jack Waring, Syd Miller, Arthur Mailey, F H Cumberworth, Fred Knowles and Cecil Hartt, who was elected president.Black and White Artists, The Sydney Morning Herald, 9 September 1925, p.9.
Other notable members Jules Faber (elected president 2009) Alex Gurney
Hall of Fame
Jimmy Bancks (1889–1952) – creator of Ginger Meggs Stanley Cross (1888–1977) – creator of The Potts and Wally and the Major Will Dyson (1880–1938) – political cartoonist (Bulletin, Melbourne Punch, Daily Herald) Ken Emerson (1927–2010) – creator of On The Rocks and The Warrumbunglers George Finey (1895–1987) – cartoonist (Smith's Weekly) May Gibbs (1877–1969) – author and illustrator Alex Gurney (1902–1955) – creator of Bluey and Curley Jeff Hook (1928–2018) – editorial cartoonist for the Hobart Mercury, Herald Sun Eric Jolliffe (1907–2001) – creator of Witchetty's Tribe and Saltbush Bill Percy Leason (1889–1959) – early political cartoonist (Bulletin, Melbourne Punch) Vane Lindesay (1920–) – cartoonist, author and cartoon historian Norman Lindsay (1879–1969) – acclaimed artist, sculptor and cartoonist David Low (1891–1963) – political cartoonist and caricaturist Phil May (1864–1903) – caricaturist Emile Mercier (1901–1981) – editorial cartoonist for The Mirror Pat Oliphant (1935– ) – 1967 Pulitzer Prize winner Bruce Petty (1929–2023) – political cartoonist and animator Ron Tandberg (1943–2018) – editorial cartoonist for The Age Monty Wedd (1921–2012) – creator of Captain Justice, Ned Kelly and Ben Hall comic strips
ACA presidents
TermPresident1924–39Cecil Hartt1931–54Stan Cross1955–57Jim Russell1958–64Doug Albion (acting for Jim Russell)1965–73Jim Russell1974Doug Albion1975Tony Rafty1976Max Ariev1977Dan Russell1978Jim Swanson1979Ian Cox1980Arthur Hudson
TermPresident1981Ton Rafty1982Ian Cox1983Max Foley1984–87John Thorby1988–90James Kemsley1991Mark David1992–93Steve Panozzo1994–96Lindsay Foyle1997–99Steve Panozzo1999–2000 (April)Pierre de Dassel2000Lindsay Foyle
TermPresident2000–03 (May)Rod Emmerson2003–06James Kemsley2006–08Peter Broelman2008–10Jules Faber2010–12Jason Chatfield2012–2020Jules Faber2020–presentCathy Wilcox
Stanley Awards
The Stanley Awards are issued annually by the Australian Cartoonists' Association and recognise the best of Australian cartoonists and cartooning.
Gold Stanley Award The ACA's ultimate credit to a cartoonist is the Gold Stanley Award (named after Australian cartoonist Stan Cross, who was a longtime president of the ACA).
Previous recipients of the award are:
YearAwardee 1985Alan Moir 1986John Spooner 1987Bill Leak 1988Bill Leak 1989Bill Leak 1990Suzanne White 1991Bill Leak 1992Bill Leak 1993Eric Löbbecke 1994Bill Leak 1995Bill Leak 1996Bill Leak 1997Brett Lethbridge 1998Brett Lethbridge 1999Joanne Brooker
YearAwardee 2000Sturt Krygsman 2001James Kemsley 2002David Rowe 2003Rolf Heimann 2004George Haddon 2005Peter Broelman 2006Mark Knight 2007David Rowe 2008David Rowe 2009Peter Broelman
YearAwardee 2010David Pope 2011Anton Emdin 2012David Pope 2013Anton Emdin 2014David Rowe 2015David Pope
Jim Russell Award The Jim Russell Award, formerly the Silver Stanley Award, (named after Australian cartoonist Jim Russell), given to individuals or organisations who, in the opinion of the ACA Board, has made a significant contribution to Australian cartooning.
Previous recipients of the award are:
YearAwardee1985Jim Russell1986The Bulletin1987John Thorby1988Vane Lindesay1989State Library of New South Wales1990James Kemsley1991Dan Russell1992Lindsay Foyle1993John Champion1994Les Dixon1995Cole Buchanan1996Tony Rafty1997L. J. Hooker1998Jeff Hook1999Roger Fletcher
YearAwardee2000Jenny Hughes2001Bruce Petty2002No Award given2003William Ellis Green "Weg"2004Monty Wedd2005Allan Salisbury "Sols"2006Paul Rigby2007Michael Atchison2008Jim Bridges2009Norman Hetherington "Heth"
YearAwardee2010Steve Panozzo2011Rolf Heimann2012Talking Pictures – Insiders (ABC TV)2013Russ Radcliffe2014Media, Entertainment and Arts Alliance (MEAA)2015Stan Cross’ original cartoon, “For gorsake, stop laughing: this is serious!”
Footnotes
References A Fleet Souvenir, The Sydney Mail, (Wednesday, 29 July 1925), p3.
External links
Australian Cartoonists' Association – official website The Stanleys Lindesay, Vane, Drawing from Life: A History of the Australian Black and White Artists' Club, State Library of New South Wales Press, (Sydney), 1994.