Characters travel the world

Ken Arnold takes nostalgic look at Chunder, Dog and Bear

TODAY we are going to have a Captain Cook at Chunder Loo.

At first glance you would probably think it was the invention of a septic tank but, no this at all, but the smiling bald headed man with the turban is actually an endearing Indian from Bengal, who was always accompanied by a fat koala, named Bear, dressed in an army uniform and a mongrel fox terrier called Dog, who was dressed in a sailors uniform.

Chunder Loo of Akim Foo fame is as Australian as Bazza. Chunder Loo came to life in a series of advertisements for Blyth and Platt, an English boot and shoe polish company, in 1909.

He was originally drawn by well-known Australian artist Norman Lindsay but when he became so popular his brother Lionel Lindsay wrote and illustrated The Adventures of Chunder Loo in 1916.

As Chunder Loo was roaming the world during World War One, he often just being referred to as Chunder, his name quickly became corrupted as rhyming slang for spew, simply loosely meaning to be sick, hence the introduction of chunder and spew into our English language.

You would have to wonder if Chunder Loo ever made it to the imaginary Persian city of Chunder-abad-dad. One of the epic journeys of Chunder Loo, armed with a sword, accompanied by Bear and Dog who had bayonets was entitled “On the Track of the Huns”.

The setting shows the three intrepid “soldiers” crouched over several ‘Munchen Bier’ (Munich Beer) bottles, Dog holding a bot-

ARAPROSDOKIANS...

tle to his nose. There is a trail of empty and broken bottles back to the limits of the town which suggests that the Germans may have drunk too much alcohol, which probably led to their downfall.

This drawing was part of a series, that were used to advertise Cobra boot polish from 1909 until around 1920. Chunder Loo also appeared in a cartoon strip in The Bulletin from 1915 to 1919, he being extremely popular with children who wanted to keep up to date with his exploits.

Today he is simply just Australia folk art, he being as Australian as Snuggle Pot and Cuddlepie Ginger Meggs and Felix the Cat, the latter two being the registered trademarks for Albert Whippie, who traded as Whipworth Boot & Shoe Company Sydney a century ago.

If you would like to have a butchers hook at Chunder Bunny, the long lost cousin of Chunder Loo, then venture down town into any major city, or any night club area, in the wee small hours of Saturday or Sunday morning and you will probably spot someone laughing at the ground whilst having a technicolour yawn, the fore runner to a masterpiece known as a rainbow parfait, however, spare a thought for poor Chunder Loo, he is no longer as worthless this once one shilling (10 cents) book now commands more than $3000 for an original copy.

Ginger Meggs, the little Aussie battler, was created by Jimmy Banks in the early 1920s. This mischief maker lived in an inner suburban working class household.

(Winston Churchill loved them)

Figures of speech in which the latter part of a sentence or phrase is surprising or unexpected; frequently humorous.

„ Where there’s a will, I want to be in it.

„ The last thing I want to do is hurt you, but it’s still on my list.

„ Since light travels faster than sound, some people appear bright until you hear them speak.

„ If I agreed with you, we’d both be wrong.

„ We never really grow up, we only learn how to act in public.

„ War does not determine who is rightonly who is left.

„ Knowledge is knowing a tomato is a fruit. Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.

It has always been thought that Pat Sullivan created Felix the Cat in the 1920s but today America claim that Otto Messmer was his creator.

Blyth and Platt Ltd, boot and shoe polish manufacturers, was established by G W Rowe, at Altringham, Cheshire, England in 1894. This business moved to their new factory – the “Solar Works” on Greatham Road, New Bushey, Watford in 1905.

„ They begin the evening news with Good Evening, then proceed to tell you why it isn’t.

„ To steal ideas from one person is plagiarism. To steal from many is research.

„ 1Buses stop in bus stations. Trains stop in train stations. On my desk is a work station.

„ I thought I wanted a career. Turns out I just wanted pay cheques.

„ In filling out an application, where it says, “In case of emergency, notify” I put doctor.

„ I didn’t say it was your fault, I said I was blaming you.

„ Women will never be equal to men until they can walk down the street with a bald head and a beer gut, and still think they are sexy.

„ A clear conscience is the sign of a fuzzy memory

„ You do not need a parachute to

There was soon a large overseas network of agents selling Cobra brand polishes but in the countries where snakes or cobras is anathema to the residents the polish was marketed as Crown brand.

During 1914 this firm sent a large overseas consignment or 700,000 tins, which weighed about 40 tons. After the death of Rowe, FJ Brown had a branch factory established in Sydney, trad- skydive. You only need a parachute to skydive twice.

„ Money can’t buy happiness, but it sure makes misery easier to live with.

„ I used to be indecisive. Now I’m not so sure.

„ You’re never too old to learn something stupid.

„ To be sure of hitting the target, shoot first and call whatever you hit the target.

„ Nostalgia isn’t what it used to be.

„ Change is inevitable, except from a vending machine.

„ Going to church doesn’t make you a Christian any more than standing in a garage makes you a car.

„ Where there’s a will, there are relatives.

„ I’m supposed to respect my elders, but it’s getting harder and harder for me to find one now.

NEXT WEEK ing as Blyth & Platt (Australia).

The business of Blyth & Platt Ltd was purchased from the parent company of Levers Brothers by Chiswick Products Ltd on October 1, 1928, the latter becoming Reckitt & Coleman however the Cobra range was maintained until the demise of this business in 1953.

The Blyth & Platt Limited, Solar Works, Watford was liquidated 1961.

The girl with a ‘Spanish nanna’ serving up her tasty creations

JONES (Nee Appleby)

Brenda Mary

Died peacefully on May 12th 2023. Aged 85 years.

Loved Wife of Albert.

Loving Mum of Jenny (Cossar), Pam (Treble), Karen, Sue and their families. Much loved Sister of Brian and Graeme (Both Dec.)

“Love Does Not End”

The Funeral Service to celebrate the life of Mrs. Brenda Mary Jones will be held by the graveside at the Inglewood Cemetery on Friday (May 19) at 11.00am.

A livestream of the service will be available at www.napierpark.com.au

Public Notices

Swap Meet

Saturday 20th May

Engine Park, cnr Racecourse Rd and Calder Highway, Wedderburn

Gates open to the public from 7am Entry (cash only) $2 adults

Children free

Help shape the future of agriculture

We’re looking for people from diverse backgrounds and with differing perspectives and knowledge about natural resource management to join our Regional Sustainable Agriculture Committee.

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Supported by

BBQ, Pies and Pasties, Pancakes, Soup, Tea, Coffe and slices and more to feast on Enquires to: T Bailey 0427 583 341 L Goddard 0438 915 278

With a focus on agriculture in the region, the committee meets quarterly. Your valuable contribution will help guide projects and programs from a community perspective including development and implementation.

Expressions of interest are open to until 5pm Friday 19 May.

To express your interest via a quick survey, please go to: https://bit.ly/regionalsusag

More information about the CMA’s Sustainable Agriculture program can also be found at www. nccma.vic.gov.au