Ginger Meggs, a popular long-run Australian comic strip, was created in the early 1920s by Jimmy Bancks. 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.^[1]

Bancks died 1 July 1952, from a heart attack. Ron Vivian took over the strip, followed by Lloyd Piper, James Kemsley and Jason Chatfield.

Adaptation[link]

Ginger Meggs was adapted into a feature film by Jonathan Dawson in 1982.^[2] "Ginger Meggs" was also adapted into a stage musical with has been running since the early nineties, distributed by David Spicer Productions.

Commemoratives[link]

In 1985, a postage stamp honouring Ginger or his creator was issued by Australia Post as part of a set of five commemorating children's books.^[3]

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 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 with the assistance of fellow Australian artists Peter Broelman and Rolf Harris. 1 July 2011 was the 59th anniversary of James C Bancks' death. The Perth Mint is the oldest mint in Australia.

Artists[link]

James C Bancks (dec.) created, wrote, drew and syndicated Ginger Meggs from 1921-1952

[In the interim, there were a years worth of strips to run while another artist was found.

Ron Vivian (dec.) wrote and drew Ginger Meggs from 1953-1973

Lloyd Piper (dec.) wrote and drew Ginger Meggs from 1973-1983

James Kemsley (dec.) wrote, drew and syndicated Ginger Meggs from 1984-2007 On 3 December 2007, James Kemsley, cartoonist for Ginger Meggs for 23 years, died at his home in Welby, New South Wales. 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.

Jason Chatfield now writes, draws and syndicates Ginger Meggs since 2007. The strip remains widely syndicated today, appearing in over 120 newspapers in 34 countries.

Bibliography[link]

• 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, written and drawn by James Kemsley (1986, ISBN 0-7316-0697-3)
• 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, written & drawn by Kemsley
• Ginger Meggs' lucky break
• Ginger Meggs meets the test, written by Bill Peach, illustrated by Dan Russell (19765, ISBN 0-207-13601-7)

Songs[link]

• 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)

References[link]

External links[link]

• www.gingermeggs.com Ginger Meggs history
• Ginger Meggs: Australia's favourite comic strip! Jed Kemsley
• Comics