Hartigan and Scott No Match for Cartoons Whilst Edward Bulwer-Lytton made a point, in 1839, of formally creating the oft-repeated phrase, it wasn’t until 13 November, 2009, when the pen finally proved to be mightier than the sword. After weeks of public slanging matches, News Limited and the ABC finally downed their weaponry and joined each other for a cup of tea and a chat in the foyer of the ABC’s Ultimo headquarters in Sydney, ostensibly to open the ACA/ Insiders Cartoon Exhibition, the first in what is hoped will be a regular event. Well hung, all of them... TOP: News Limited supremo John Hartigan flanked by (l-r) ACA President Jules Faber, MC Fiona Katauskas and Curators Steve Panozzo and Lindsay Foyle BELOW LEFT: ABC GM Mark Scott BELOW RIGHT: Sean Leahy watrches studiously as Pat Oliphant signs away
Featuring the work of more than 65 Australian cartoonists, the exhibition was a mammoth organisational task, with only 3 weeks in which to collect, mount and hang the artwork. In one corner was News Limited, represented by John Hartigan, CEO and
Chairman of News Limited. In the other, ABC General Manager Mark Scott. In the middle were anxious ABC and News Limited PR people, invited guests, journalists and more than a few cartoonists, wondering what was going to happen as each of the two men took turns at the podium. Aware that she could well be caught in the crossfire, a very brave Fiona Katauskas took to the microphone to kick-start proceedings and introduced the speakers, namely Hartigan, Scott, ACA President Jules Faber and Stanley Awards guest of honour, Pat Oliphant. Paying tribute to the “god-given gift” cartoonists have, Hartigan voiced his belief that Australian artists lead the world in political cartooning. He regaled the crowd with tales of the infamous antics of Paul Rigby, and noting the presence of familiar faces in the crowd, namely Warren Brown and 94-year-old Tony Rafty who, dauntlessly let the crowd know that he was still up to chasing girls. Despite the ceasefire, Hartigan couldn’t resist taunting Scott. “Even Mark would have to agree there’s one thing print does better than broadcast,” he said. “And that’s cartoons.” And then, with an unexpected exaltation of “Whoopie!”, Oliphant declared the exhibition open. According to the ABC, there is the distinct possibility of the exhibition travelling to Melbourne, so it seems the future is looking bright. Whoopie, indeed!
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