Cane Toad Times Poking fun in a police state State Library of Queensland 5 November 2011 — 25 March 2012 Welcome to Cane Toad Times Poking fun in a police state

The exhibition, Cane Toad Times: Poking fun in a police “My head was full of state, showcases original issues of Cane Toad Times crazy ideas about social publications as the centrepiece of an unfolding cultural justice, but before we history created by a collective of individuals who charged the barricades, sought to expose a hidden Brisbane. During a time that saw street marching banned, the demolition a good dose of ridicule of heritage buildings, corrupt police and the tightening grip of a was required.” conservative government, Cane Toad Times offered an alternative D eb Brown, philosophy lecturer at view of Queensland. “This view conflicted with the then ‘official’ view, University of Queensland, but was nevertheless tinged with a sense of nostalgia, with genuine former Cane Toad Times contributor feelings for the place where most of the contributors either lived or grew up” (Simon Stocks). With stories called Death of a Prostitute, Queensland Politics — Trust Honest Greed, A Cute Psychotic State, Kicking the Sunbeam and Expo Aversion Therapy, the Cane Toad Times contributors embraced satire and popular culture in their irreverent storytelling whilst exploring the issues, events and problems predominantly misrepresented by mainstream media. Indeed, the Cane Toad Times contributors anticipated the rise of Citizen Journalism with their street-press style magazine that responded to the eroding trust in the Left: item 3 Below: item 52 (detail) media and public disillusionment with politics and civic affairs.

5 November 2011 — 25 March 2012 Open daily 10am–5pm Philip Bacon Heritage Gallery, level 4 Free

Politics & persuasion at slq Politics & persuasion at slq II Cane Toad Times: Poking fun in a police state Cane Toad Times: Poking fun in a police state 1 Before Fitzgerald… …there was the Cane Toad Times

b y Robert Whyte, Cane Toad Times contributor blacks and reds. Protesters were of pitched battle on the campuses misfits and malcontents, typified and streets of Brisbane. The battle by Joh as ‘friends of the dirt’, the was between Joh and his cohort What’s the difference between a Queenslander and a cane toad? ‘anti-nuclear lot’ and the ‘everything of white-shoe property developers, Not much, apparently. Both are reviled and ridiculed. Both inspire fear and loathing — especially for the aborigines crowd’. By 1983, industrialists and open-cut profiteers in the south. Both are tales of embarrassing bungles, all-consuming appetites and environmental Joh’s Nationals were ruling in their on one side — and on the other destruction we’d rather weren’t made public. own right with the simple slogan a rag-tag alliance of civil liberties “Joh. Queensland.”iii lawyers, marxists, students, It could only happen in with the prejudice and backwoods Coalition’s 59 per cent. Hmmm. There was something deeply academics, unionists, musicians, Queensland. We see Australia suspicion of many Queenslanders, Does that seem fair to you? disturbing about the readiness actors and women. depicted deeply disconsolate, turning especially outside the towns, where a As time went on, protests of Queenslanders to support In May 1977, the first issue of away, letting the curtain fall back country vote could be worth up to five were crushed, venues shut down, Joh’s Canberra bashing. He said Cane Toad Times hopped off the to conceal the appalling brutality of times as much as a vote in the city. and young people were fitted Queensland would run its own presses. On its cover was a world- police on Black Friday, 2 February In the 1971 Queensland state up, busted and harassed. Joh’s affairs, have its own flag, its own seat weary, Silver Jubilee Cane Toad 1912, when protestors were savagely election, Joh’s Country Party mangled rants about getting rid of in the United Nations, and even have Queen. So began a tradition where attacked in a banned street marchi. somehow grabbed the largest communists and unions, weeding its own currency, the Queensland no cow was too sacred. It was a Sound familiar? number of parliamentary seats with out troublemakers and atheists dollar. During a Japanese trade declaration of independence, a Move forward 65 years to the smallest number of primary became inextricably interwoven with mission he announced, “I am here to generation claiming its own space, its Queensland, 1977. votes. Labor won half the two-party notions of Queensland pride. There say we are not Australians — we are own fun.v Joh Bjelke-Petersen is a preferred vote, but ended up with was widespread nodding agreement Queenslanders.”iv One of the key contributors was decade into his despotic, erratic and only 41 per cent of the seats to the with Joh’s disgust of gays, greens, Matt Mawson, cartoonist and layout vainglorious reign. The rule of the The Cane Toad artist from the first issue in 1977 peanut farmer from Kingaroy had In 1977, John Jiggens and and a major force in the second issue, The Incredible Peanut. seen the banning of the soundtrack Bill Thorpe’s illustration other co-founders of Cane Toad collective (1983–1990). Matt was The first collective was proudly of the musical Hair, a state of to Flark March’s ‘The Times were ruminating over a a link between the two groups, counter-cultural, selling ads to emergency declared to protect a Great Banana War’, variety of tropical produce when along with Damien Ledwich and alternative businesses like Rocking team of rugby union footballers, the Terry Murphy, both of whom also Cane Toad Times, someone suggested the cane Horse Records and staging benefits Giant Mutant Cane banning of political demonstrations worked on 4ZZZ’s Radio Times. toad as their satirical Queensland including The Cane Toad Hop, Joys Toad issue, October and the arrests of hundreds of Matt remembers the first collective champion. They all laughed. The for the Jaded, The Deranged Ball and 1977 street-marching protestors. Joh fed cane toad was repulsive, but also produced the magazine at the Planet The Night of the Lesser Suave. The the chooks, as he called the media, a heroic and ultimately Press building in Spring punk band Razar, managed by Ian incomprehensible babble about hilarious celebration Hill, where games of Roberts and famous for their anthem revolting students, communists, of a super fit, with So began a indoor cricket occurred Task Force, were frequent performers, despicable homosexuals and “don’t an out-of-my-way in breaks between as were The Go-Betweens and The you worry about that”. In a truly tradition where komodo-dragon-like sessions of magazine Riptides. The magazine proclaimed bizarre rise to supreme executive swagger of invincibility, production. John Cane Toad Times represented power over a cowed cabinet, this no cow was too deadly poison sacs and Jiggens held editorial “hope for oppressed minorities and Lutheran conservative believed morose frown. The idea sacred. It was meetings at his home in depressed majorities in the sugar he was chosen by God to lead was simply funny. And a declaration of Miskin Street, Toowong. cane republic”.vii Queensland, claiming his 15 years The illustrators could get so Cane Toad Times History was not kind. The living alone in a converted cow-bail, creative with the Cane was born. independence, flickering flame of hope represented clearing 40 hectares of brigalow a Toad Times layout — The original Cane by Cane Toad Times was soon day, gave him a better education a generation Damien and Matt would Toad Times collective snuffed out. By 1979, when Cane than an Oxford degree.ii encourage each other was a group of young claiming its Toad Times Version 1.0 folded, Joh Was Joh some Queensland to push the limits.vi Queensland writers Bjelke’s jackboot tactics kicked Rasputin, dabbling in the black arts, own space, its and friends who had Over the next 12 the crap out of the political and hypnotising the bewildered masses, met at The University own fun. years, there would be cultural left in the protest movement. reducing them to fawning, dribbling of Queensland in the 22 issues of the Cane Many retired to the relative safety idiots? Hardly. His workaholic, 1970s, including John Toad Times, produced of academia. Others left the state. anti-greenie, anti-intellectual strong- Jiggens, David Richards, Gerard Lee, by two collectives. The first collective Cane Toad Times fizzled out while man-on-a-mission act — two parts Ian Roberts, Bill Thorpe, Sue McLeod produced seven issues from 1977 an increasingly successful Joh racist, three parts sexist, four parts and Janice Knopke, who teamed to 1979. The second collective presided over a churchy, holier-than- homophobic — resonated deeply up with a group of cartoonists from produced 15 issues between 1983 thou, whiter-than-white conservative 4ZZZ-FM’s Radio Times, including and 1990. Originally a stapled establishment. This thin veil of quarterfold, the magazine assumed i James Thomas Case 1884–1921 Matt Mawson, Terry Murphy, Damien Sunday School and pumpkin scones Black Friday by Jim its eventual tabloid size by the fourth Black Friday, 1912 Ledwich and Ross Hinckley. Cage which originally barely concealed a deeply corrupt John Oxley Library, State Library of The year of 1977 coincided appeared in The police force in bed with politicians, Queensland / HPT POL 163 with the onset of two crucial years v ibid. Worker in 1912 was ii Evans, Raymond. A History of vi Stephen Stockwell, Alternative Media vii The Cane Toad Times Warts and All a commentary on the Queensland, Cambridge University iii ibid. p: 228 in Brisbane: 1965–1985, Queensland Best of Collection 1977–1990 Special General Strike. Press, 2007, p: 220 iv ibid. p: 229 Review, 14(1), 2007: 75-87 Edition, 2005

Politics & persuasion at slq Politics & persuasion at slq 2 Cane Toad Times: Poking fun in a police state Cane Toad Times: Poking fun in a police state 3 genuine journalism as you could Queensland was the funniest show in high places, mired in corruption. Cane Toad Times editors of the mid get, selling papers with puff pieces, in town. High-quality humour and After all, here was a great story 1980s, Anne Jones, hokey meat-pie philosophy and invective started pouring in when begging to be told — a story that Damien Ledwich, a-nod-and-a-wink to the blind horse each theme for the coming issue would sell papers. His new editor Robert Whyte and gobbling up Queensland mineral was announced. Two telling issues Greg Chamberlain and chief of staff Mark Bracken. Photo: wealth, environment and real estate. were #4 Food and Corruption and Bob Gordon wanted to find out who Steve Hamilton, from Cane Toad Times 1983–1990 #5 Death and Style. owned Sin Triangle in the Valley. The the Cane Toad Times was a mixture of hard-hitting Cane Toad Times was not task was taken up by Phil Dickie, archives. journalism, rants, cartoon strips, opposed to those ‘in power’ so and the rest as they say is history. parodies, lists, short stories, quizzes much as intent on bypassing and Phil Dickie’s newspaper reports led and bold graphic design. It rejected ignoring them, except to poke fun at to the broadcast on Four Corners anything needlessly obscure, their obvious stupidity and evil. Costs of Moonlight State. Having watched pretentious or arty. It was not a place were covered by rocketing sales the Four Corners expose, acting for self indulgence or celebrity. Its when distribution in newsagents Premier Bill Gunn ordered an inquiry famous campaign against ‘creeping went Australia-wide, plus Cane the following day, 11 May 1987. Who poetism’ was really a rallying call to Toad Hops, benefits with bands knows what would have happened seize back the mainstream in the awash with alcohol, and t-shirt had Joh not been overseas? absence of any meaningful culture sales. Sympathetic southern editors The Fitzgerald Inquiry, led by in Queensland. An eight-point list gave the editors paid work writing Tony Fitzgerald QC, ran from May of aims in Issue 1 of The Eccentric or cartooning for their papers and 1987 and ended in July 1989. For Voice was not kidding when it asked the obvious quality of the innovative the editors and contributors of Cane its writers, illustrators and readers to layout of Cane Toad Times got Toad Times, the Fitzgerald Inquiry boldly go where no poet has been the design and writing team work was heaven on a stick. Cane Toad before, to seek out and vigorously producing stuff for other people. Times set up what was called the Item 48 oppose creeping poetism in all Cane Toad Times’ finest its earthly manifestations, to wipe moment was probably Issue 4’s poetry off the face of the earth, detailed list of everything rotten in and to undermine the family and the state of Queensland. Compiled totally destroy western civilisation by Stephen Stockwell, this built on as we know it. We’re just here for Kev Hooper’s landmark revelations the fear – Queensland Paranoia of corruption under parliamentary prostitution racketeers, SP betting, Cane Toad goes to Mullumbimby 2007 History of Queenslandix, places written by ‘Someone Else’, set privilege. There was also a less drug laundering, illegal casinos and July 1977, Giant Mutant Cane Cane Toad Times in the broad the tone. ‘Someone Else’ was strident but equally insightful side, payoffs. Toad October 1977, The Incredible context of Queensland radicalism, Steve Stockwell, now Professor of representing Queensland in short Chris Masters, whose Four Peanut December 1977, Phantoad flying the ‘freak flag’ with radio Journalism at Griffith University. stories such as Bobby Skurm by Corners exposé The Moonlight State April 1978, From Behind the Peanut station 4ZZZ. However, this referred Among Cane Toad Times Denis Peel, set in the late 1950s would help bring down the corrupt Curtain June 1978 and Juvenile more to the first Cane Toad Times, editors, it was Damien Ledwich who about the first kid to skateboard regime, explained: “Hector Hapeta’s Delinquency June 1979. for which Ray was a contributing was most insistent on the need to down Camp Hill, Denying the faith main brothel Top of the Valley cartoonist, than the second. seize the mainstream publishing by Errol O’Neill about an exchange commanded a useful corner position The road to Fitzgerald Not in the least bit freaky, Anne tools of mass production and wide between a State School kid and at a major Fortitude Valley junction. 1983–1990 Jones and Damien Ledwich were circulation. He was not interested in two Catholic boys, and Sean Mee’s It seemed to me that in the tradition both 4ZZZ and Semper alumni, one-off performance, or appealing to Des ne refuse rien about going By the early 1980s, Queensland of giant pineapples and giant prawns equipped with radio and newspaper the arts ghetto. to the dump — all celebrating was a national disgrace, a you see at coastal tourist towns, a communication skills. From the The Cane Toad Times editorial quintessentially Queensland disturbingly corrupt joke. The giant penis would have not been out start, they took a direction setting process was a friendly one, with experience and finding admirers Queenslanders who remained were x of place. It would have been no less them apart from the first collective food, drink and plenty of laughter, further afield. the butt of this joke, happily kicked blatant.”viii — there were no reviews. When the but it was a tough school. Good by the southern media. During this time when political leading lights of the ‘counter culture’ ideas got better, bad ones got A can of worms — In 1983, Anne Jones and protest was crushed, the cultural either left or were headhunted by dumped. The individual voice of the Fitzgerald lifts the lid Damien Ledwich took the long view left rallied around the successful FM the emerging youth culture venues ‘auteur’ was happily sacrificed for — Joh Bjelke-Petersen couldn’t last What a delicious irony it is to radio station 4ZZZ and the Brisbane in the southern states, or hid out in finely-honed material forged by the forever. Labor was back in power know that Rupert Murdoch caused music scene. Oddly, radio leaves no the establishment to outlast the Joh group. No one was too precious nationally and was supporting the the downfall of Joh Bjelke-Petersen mark in history. Cane Toad Times years, there was nothing to review. about their ideas and even lame Queensland political and cultural left and his cronies. In 1987, Murdoch was one of very few products to Queensland was not only a literary jokes with the germ of a good gag with arts funding, notably funding the bought The Courier-Mail. Not being remain as a transcript of the times. and arts vacuum, in 1983, it was a were thrashed out around the table. Popular Theatre Troupe, an agit-prop a Queenslander, Rupert had no The legacy of Cane Toad Times journalism-free zone. Reporting in The hard work paid off. Like ensemble satirising Joh’s banana particular interest in protecting those Version 1.0 was seven issues — The Courier-Mail was as far from 4ZZZ before it, talent at Cane Toad republic in factories and shopping Royal Cane Toad May 1977, The Times was recognised by southern centres. Raymond Evans, in his ix Evans, Raymond. A History of journalists, illustrators and writers x Stocks, Simon, The Cane Toad Times: Queensland, Cambridge University who got on board for the crazy ride. Queensland — warts and all, Queensland viii ibid. Press, 2007 Review, Vol 5 No 1, May 1998

Politics & persuasion at slq Politics & persuasion at slq 4 Cane Toad Times: Poking fun in a police state Cane Toad Times: Poking fun in a police state 5 Tony Fitzgerald Fan Club. In reality, stench. On TV, there were nightly funny. Twenty years after it appeared, it was just a t-shirt. A photo of 7:30 re-enactments of Fitzgerald Inquiry it would still be funny. Report anchor Quentin Dempster hearings. Comedians like Gerry It would get its writers and tearing open his business shirt to Connolly and Max Gillies made hay. illustrators noticed. It would reveal a Tony Fitzgerald Still in government, appeal to people appalled by the Fan Club t-shirt but reeling in the polls commercial media’s race to the underneath made it into These were the and staggering with bottom and exasperated by the The Courier-Mail. ALP the dead weight of Joh vacuous consumerism, kneejerk leader Wayne Goss was halcyon days Bjelke-Petersen at the xenophobia and the useless fiddling photographed wearing of Cane Toad helm, the Nationals while our biome burns. one on his daily run. in parliament rebelled It would do stuff, not just The Tony Fitzgerald Times. The and deposed their talk about it. It would consider Fan Club t-shirts lid was lifted leader, choosing Mike postmodernism a soft target, sold like hot cakes, Ahern instead. Addled, and move on to something more especially to the media off the can of arrogant — and let’s substantial to ridicule. and staff assisting the corrupt worms, face it — nutty as a A critical culture capable Inquiry. fruitcake, Joh asked of questioning everything is not Corruption – the releasing a the Governor of something that just happens. It takes board game, the game sickening, Queensland to sack just a bit more effort than a blog. that gets you rotten, all his ministers so he Until you can get past your personal appeared in Cane embarrassing could continue to rule. problems (no one’s interested), your Toad Times, Issue stench. The Governor declined. job (not even you’re interested) and 11, Spring 1988. The The house of jokers your hobbies (yawn) — you’re not idea came from editor and wild cards was participating in the world, let alone Mark Bracken. It featured all of the falling. By 2 December 1989, it was changing it. It’s not about you. elements being investigated by the all over. Cleanskin lawyer Wayne Pick a theme. Get some friends. Fitzgerald Inquiry: vice, crime and Goss and Labor swept to power. Make something good and make it gambling — and one he did not Former civil liberties lawyer and ALP last. It’s that simple. And remember, investigate, drugs. State Secretary Peter Beattie was if it was any good, they wouldn’t These were the halcyon days given the job of chairman of the need to call it art. of Cane Toad Times. The lid was parliamentary committee overseeing The 15 issues of Cane Below: item 35 (detail) lifted off the can of corrupt worms, the Criminal Justice Commission, Toad Times, 1983–1990 were: Right: item 16 releasing a sickening, embarrassing now the Crime and Misconduct Queensland 1983, Religious Commission. Beattie went on to be Mysteries 1984, Sex, Leisure and Queensland Premier. Technology, Food and Corruption 1985, Death and Style, Science Cane Toad Times today? Fiction and the Family 1986, Hot Cane Toad Times was not Summer, Cars and Romance 1987, the most important thread in the Fear and Clothing, The Birthday fabric of its time, it simply is one Issue, Music and Money 1988, Art of the very few remaining ones. and Perversion, Superstition 1989, Because much of the history of the Sydney Exposure, Green and Bear era went unrecorded, the physical it 1990. existence of a mass circulation national newspaper-magazine meant Cane Toad Times survived where other products have faded and disappeared. Even during its life, back issues were eagerly sought by new readers, and many full sets are in existence in private collections and in libraries. Robert Whyte is a former Cane Toad Times If Cane Toad Times were to exist contributor and member of the Second today, it would be made to last. It Collective editorial team. Rob is now the would not be a Twitter feed with a senior writer and director of Brisbane-based half life of a nanosecond. It would multimedia company ToadShow, which not be a Facebook page. It would he established in 1986. He has taught not serve the cults of personality writing and new media studies at Griffith or celebrity — much of its material University, The University of Queensland and would be group written. It would be Queensland University of Technology.

Politics & persuasion at slq Politics & persuasion at slq 6 Cane Toad Times: Poking fun in a police state Cane Toad Times: Poking fun in a police state 7 Exhibition Items

1. 7. 13. “Just creating Civil liberties rally: on your feet, not Various photographers Damien Ledwich on your knees, 1978 “Big Things” photographic montage, Cane Toad Times with compliments a vehicle for Brisbane, October Mobilization Committee circa 1983 slip, circa 1988 some very Colour poster, 620 x 440mm Reprints of black and white photographs Photocopy, 178 x 90mm John Oxley Library, State Library of 8. John Oxley Library, State Library of Queensland, HPT POL 158 creative Steven Hamilton Queensland, Acc. 28099 people to 2. Cane Toad Times contributors 14. March Dec 7, King George Square, wearing Tony Fitzgerald Fan Club Rhana Devenport do their 1978 t-shirts, circa 1988 Superstition, 1989 Brisbane, Civil Liberties Co-ordinating Reprint of black and white photograph Original artwork (paint and ink on paper) stuff was Committee 505 x 383mm 9. something Colour poster, 500 x 320mm John Oxley Library, State Library of John Oxley Library, State Library of Steven Hamilton Queensland, Acc. 28099 Anne Jones wearing Tony Fitzgerald worth doing.” Queensland, HPT POL 160 15. Fan Club t-shirt, circa 1988 Ian Cook, political 3. Reprint of black and white photograph Rhana Devenport science lecturer at The Government is growing, circa 1978 Superstition, 1989 Murdoch University, Brisbane, Self-Management Organization, 10. Full-colour printer’s proof (with fold-over former Cane Toad Socialist Action Group (Anarchist Tendency) Anne Jones interleaving tracing paper), 460 x 315mm Times contributor Colour poster, 570 x 440 mm Cane Toad Times meeting notice, John Oxley Library, State Library of John Oxley Library, State Library of April 1987 Queensland, Acc. 28099 Queensland, HPT POL 162 Photocopy, 297 x 210mm 16. John Oxley Library, State Library of 4. Multiple Cane Toad Times Queensland, Acc. 28099 March on QLD, circa 1979 contributors Colour poster, 540 x 330 mm 11. Superstition (Issue 13, Autumn 1989) John Oxley Library, State Library of Anne Jones Original Cane Toad Times magazine Queensland, HPT POL 159 Cane Toad Times meeting agenda, 410 x 280mm 5. April 1987 John Oxley Library, State Library of 18. 23. 28. Vote 1 Labor, Dec. 13 Ink and pencil on paper (dot-matrix print out Queensland, SQ 827 005 Deborah Brown Contributors unknown Damien Ledwich Brisbane, Authorised by Building Trades with handwritten notes), 297 x 210mm 17. Religious Mysteries, 1984 Page from Cane Toad Times, 1984 Joh Bjelke-Petersen as Hitler, 1986 John Oxley Library, State Library of Group 1975 Deborah Brown Camera-ready art (paste-up sheet with Camera-ready art (paste-up sheet) Computer-generated artwork (laserprint) Black and white poster, 455 x 325mm Queensland, Acc. 28099 rubylith overlays), 420 x 305mm 425 x 290mm 296 x 210mm Religious Mysteries, 1984 John Oxley Library, State Library of John Oxley Library, State Library of John Oxley Library, State Library of John Oxley Library, State Library of 12. Original artwork (ink on paper) Queensland, HPT POL 164 Queensland, Acc. 28099 Queensland, Acc. 28099 Queensland, Acc. 28099 Michael Barnett 446 x 300mm 6. Cane Toad Times Envelope, circa 1988 John Oxley Library, State Library of 19. 24. 29. Photographer unknown Envelope (stamps on paper), 100 x 230mm Queensland, Acc. 28099 Deborah Brown Contributors unknown Damien Ledwich Cane Toad Times contributors march John Oxley Library, State Library of Religious Mysteries, 1984 Page from Cane Toad Times, 1984 The New Reich Order Form, 1986 in Brisbane, circa 1988 Queensland, Acc. 28099 Screamer (silk-screen on paper) Camera-ready art (paste-up sheet), Photocopy (ink on paper), 300 x 205mm Below: items 18–21 Reprint of colour photograph 382 x 255mm 420 x 280mm John Oxley Library, State Library of Right: item 53 John Oxley Library, State Library of John Oxley Library, State Library of Queensland, Acc. 28099 Queensland, Acc. 28099 Queensland, Acc. 28099 30. 20. 25. Damien Ledwich Multiple Cane Toad Times John Carey The New Reich, 1986 contributors Taxi driver illustration, 1988 T-shirt (silk screen on cloth), 470 x 280mm Religious Mysteries (Winter), 1984 Original artwork (ink on paper), 205 x 295mm On loan from private collection Original Cane Toad Times magazine / 410 x John Oxley Library, State Library of 31. 280mm / John Oxley Library, State Library Queensland, Acc. 28099 Buffy Lavery of Queensland / SQ 827 005 26. Hound of Music sponsorship 21. Errol O’Neill proposal, 1986 Deborah Brown Rehearsing, published in Cane Toad Letter (ink-jet print), 296 x 210mm Waddyamean you’re all gay?, 1984 Times, 1988 John Oxley Library, State Library of T-shirt (silk screen on cloth), 470 x 280mm Original manuscript (4 typed A4 pages Queensland, Acc. 28099 John Oxley Library, State Library of complete with hand-written annotations and 32. Queensland, Acc. 28099 correction fluid), 296 x 210mm each Damien Ledwich On loan from private collection 22. Hound of Music artwork, 1986 Contributors unknown 27. Original artwork (ink on card), 320 x 200mm Page from Cane Toad Times, 1986 Damien Ledwich John Oxley Library, State Library of Camera-ready art (paste-up sheet) Joh Bjelke-Petersen as Hitler, 1986 Queensland, Acc. 28099 445 x 304mm Original artwork (photographic print with John Oxley Library, State Library of hand-drawn ink),165 x 120mm Queensland, Acc. 28099 John Oxley Library, State Library of Queensland, Acc. 28099

Politics & persuasion at slq Politics & persuasion at slq 8 Cane Toad Times: Poking fun in a police state Cane Toad Times: Poking fun in a police state 9 33. 41. 45. 57. Damien Ledwich Noela Hills Brian Peterson Terry Murphy Hound of Music poster, 1986 Toads in Heat (cover of Hot Summer Mona Lisa, 1988 The paleontology of music, 1988 Poster (offset printing), 590 x 425mm Issue), January 1987 Original artwork (ink on paper) Bromide photographic print John Oxley Library, State Library of Original artwork (gouache and ink on paper 298 x 210mm 272 x 274mm Queensland, Acc. 28099 with ink on acetone overlay), 480 x 328mm John Oxley Library, State Library of On loan from private collection 34. On loan from private collection Queensland, Acc. 28099 58. Damien Ledwich 42. 46. Judy Dunn Hound of Music theatre program, Michael Barnett Gaynor Cardew Hold onto Your Hat… Maintaining 1986 Three arty cane toads, 1988 Kulcha, kids and Courtauld, 1988 the Individual, 1990 Theatre program (offset printing) Original artwork (ink on tracing paper) Original artwork (ink on paper), 530 x 412mm Black and white drawing (felt-tip pen) 420 x 195mm (closed measurement) 105 x 120mm each John Oxley Library, State Library of 297 x 210mm John Oxley Library, State Library of John Oxley Library, State Library of Queensland, Acc. 28099 On loan from private collection Queensland, Acc. 28099 Queensland, Acc. 28099 47. 59. 35. 43. Mark Cornwall Judy Dunn Damien Ledwich, John Shakespeare Whistle while you work, 1988 New Moon… New Meanings, 1990 with illustration by Albert Ricardo Donations kindly accepted, 1985 Original artwork (ink on paper), 265 x 285mm Black and white drawing (felt-tip pen) The Official Tony Fitzgerald Original artwork (ink on paper) John Oxley Library, State Library of 297 x 210mm Fan Club, 1987 420 x 298mm Queensland, Acc. 28099 On loan from private collection T-shirt (silk screen on cloth), 470 x 280mm John Oxley Library, State Library of 48. 60. John Oxley Library, State Library Queensland, Acc. 28099 John Carey Cane Toad Times, 1977–1990 of Queensland, Acc. 28099 44. Joh for PM, 1989 Woolloongabba, Cane Toad Times 36. Harry Brazier Original artwork (ink on paper), 355 x 235mm John Oxley Library, State Library of David Tyrer Shit…my period’s started..., 1988 John Oxley Library, State Library of Queensland, SQ 827 005 Killer Greely, 1987 Original artwork (ink on paper), 450 x 300mm Queensland, Acc. 28099 T-shirt (silk screen on cloth), 470 x 280mm John Oxley Library, State Library of John Oxley Library, State Library of Queensland, Acc. 28099 Queensland, Acc. 28099 Right: item 58 Below: item 33 37. Damien Ledwich Lacostigan, 1983 T-shirt (silk screen on cloth), 470 x 280mm John Oxley Library, State Library of Queensland, Acc. 28099 38. Damien Ledwich, with Arabic 49. 53. lettering by John the Syrian Damien Ledwich, with text by Mark Max Bannah I am not American, 1986 Bracken One Liners, 1985 T-shirt (silk screen on cloth), 470 x 280mm A Bicentennial diary, 1988 Original artwork (felt marker, Letratone, on On loan from private collection Original artwork (ink on paper), 442 x 305mm paper), 420 x 590mm 39. John Oxley Library, State Library of On loan from private collection Matt Mawson Queensland, Acc. 28099 54. The Phantoad, 1976 50. Deborah Brown T-shirt (silk screen on cloth) Damien Ledwich The Adventures of Skippy, 1984 470 x 280mm Journal of the PLAQUE YEARS, 1988 Black and white cartoon (ink on paper) On loan from private collection Original artwork (ink and pencil on paper) 270 x 360mm 40. 558 x 390mm On loan from private collection Matt Mawson John Oxley Library, State Library of 55. The Phantoad, Queensland, Acc. 28099 Terry Murphy 1976 51. The paleontology of music, 1988 Original artwork Matt Mawson Original artwork (pencil on paper) (ink on paper) Two-up in a barter economy, 1988 298 x 297mm 305 x 215mm Original drawing (ink on paper), 160 x 210mm On loan from private collection John Oxley Library, John Oxley Library, State Library of 56. State Library of Queensland, Acc. 28099 Terry Murphy Queensland 52. Acc. 28099 The paleontology of music, 1988 Sasha Middleton Overlay (ink and correction fluid on tracing The bulldozer — Vengeance, 1983 paper) Original artwork (ink on paper), 270 x 370mm 290 x 292mm John Oxley Library, State Library of On loan from private collection Right: item 43 Queensland, Acc. 28099

Politics & persuasion at slq Politics & persuasion at slq 10 Cane Toad Times: Poking fun in a police state Cane Toad Times: Poking fun in a police state 11 Want more? Check out these other displays, events and tech stuff during Politics & persuasion at slq this summer. Visit www.slq.qld.gov.au/whats-on for more information on upcoming events.

Queensland Votes Platforms for citizen Trotskyist daily, he entered a world “If Cane Explore voting ephemera from journalism of class struggle politics and national Queensland political parties dating Writing for the good of your liberation movements. Join Alex as Toad Times as far back as the early 1920s. From community is an important civic he and fellow journalist, Matthew started in bumper stickers to political cartoons, action, but how will people hear Condon (Editor, The Courier-Mail t-shirts, flyers and even life-size your voice? We’ll explore some of QWeekend), share a conversation on 2011, it would Lawrence Springborg cardboard cut- the popular platforms for citizen media and politics that is compelling, be a very outs — discover the materials that journalism and show you the basics exciting and rich with insights. trace Queensland’s political past. of how to get your message out there. Tue 13 December, 6pm popular blog slq Auditorium 1, level 2 Open daily 10am–5pm 8 Nov, 6 Dec, 10 Jan, 5.30pm–7.30pm Free, bookings required, 136 246, I expect and Until 18 Mar 2012 Lab 1, The Edge qtix.com.au or The Library Shop Talbot Family Treasures Wall, level 4 Free, bookings required, You can also come to a curator’s tour of banned in 7 Free [email protected] the Cane Toad Times exhibition at 5pm.

countries.” Shaping content for the web S martphone journalism Brisbane Archival Cinema D avid Barbagallo, In this series of two workshops, Enabling revolutions and inspiring Heritage with Professor CEO of Endeavour Hannah Suarez will reveal some of radical opportunities, smartphones Debra Beattie Foundation, former the untapped opportunities of the open up instant pathways for sharing Cane Toad Times SLiQ Flicks presents a screening of contributor online world: a potentially enormous stories. In this session, we look at the rarely seen local independent film audience, a multitude of free channels smartphone as a powerful journalistic from the 1970s and ‘80s, with host and the ability to share not only device, stepping through how to Professor Debra Beattie providing words, but images, video and sound. shoot an interview on a smartphone, acerbic and insightful ruminations on 18 Jan and 16 Feb, 5.30pm–7.30pm record audio and upload geo-located film, culture, politics and the ever- Lab 2, The Edge content to the web. changing nature of our town. Free, bookings required, 15 Nov, 13 Dec, 24 Jan, 5.30pm–7.30pm [email protected] A curator’s tour of the Cane Toad Times Lab 1, The Edge exhibition will be at 5pm. Free, bookings required, Video Editing 101 [email protected] Fri 20 Jan, 6pm slq Auditorium 1, level 2 Item 47 Want to know how to deliver your BYO mobile phone — phones will be Free, no bookings required message in video format? Ben Carr, loaned to those without one The Edge VSO and filmmaker, will Tony Fitzgerald Lecture show you the basics of setting up a Building a website with The Tony Fitzgerald Lecture Series video project. WordPress helps to maintain the Fitzgerald Don’t just sit there as a blithely- 2 Nov, 7 Dec, 5.30pm–7.30pm vision – to keep Parliament in its Lab 1, The Edge amused consumer of all of the cat place at the centre of the democratic Free, bookings required, videos that the Internet gods have system but with the law, community [email protected] put out there — create your own and media entrusted with an active website! In this session, you’ll learn Curator’s tours role to keep the system honest and the basics of using WordPress to open. In 2012, Hilary Charlesworth, Join Cane Toad Times curator span that all important gap and a pioneer in feminist international law and former editorial team member move from consumer to maker. Anne Jones as she shares more scholarship, will take the stage at the 1 Dec, 5.30pm–7.30pm State Library. Hilary is Director of the stories about the making of this Lab 1, The Edge Acknowledgements Centre for International Governance groundbreaking Queensland Free, bookings required, The exhibition Cane Toad Times: Poking fun in a police state is presented ISBN: 978-0-9758030-8-0 [email protected] and Justice in the Regulatory magazine. by State Library of Queensland in partnership with Queensland-based Institutions Network at the Australian Published by State Library of Sat 5 Nov, 11am and 12noon multimedia design company ToadShow and original Cane Toad Times Queensland for the exhibition Tue 13 Dec, 5pm D eepen the Conversation National University. The lecture is Alex Mitchell & Matthew Condon ‘storytellers’, Anne Jones, Robert Whyte and Damien Ledwich. Fri 20 Jan, 5pm presented by Griffith University’s Key Cane Toad Times: Sat 18 Feb, 11am – Come the Revolution Centre for Ethics, Law, Justice and Co-curated with Toni Simmonds, Exhibition Project Officer, State Library Sat 17 Mar, 11am Poking fun in a police state Hear an insider’s account of Governance and hosted by State of Queensland, the exhibition celebrates the John Oxley Library’s recent 5 November 2011 — 25 March 2012 journalism and politics, as viewed Library of Queensland. acquisition of original Cane Toad Times artwork and memorabilia. Thank you App creation through the eyes of someone who’s Stay tuned for more about the 2012 Tony to Damien Ledwich, Deborah Brown, Errol O’Neil, Judy Dunn, Mark Bracken, State Library of Queensland Learn the basics of coding apps seen it all. In his memoir Come the Fitzgerald Lecture at the State Library at Max Bannah and Terry Murphy who loaned material for this exhibition, Cultural Centre that play with the sensors, media Revolution, journalist Alex Mitchell www.griffith.edu.au augmenting the story of the Cane Toad Times. Stanley Place, South Bank and dialling capabilities of Android tells of his career beginnings in the t 07 3840 7666 phones with Daniel Flood. cut-throat era of Sydney tabloids, f 07 3840 7860 5 Nov, 3 Dec, 12noon–2.30pm and his graduation to Fleet Street e [email protected] Lab 1, The Edge | Free, bookings as an investigative reporter taking required, [email protected] w www.slq.qld.gov.au part in the exposure of Soviet double © Copyright State Library of Queensland November 2011 BYO Android mobile phone — phones agent Kim Philby. Giving up his Every effort has been made to contact the copyright holders of material reproduced in this Follow us will be loaned to those without one job to become editor of Britain’s text. In cases where efforts were unsuccessful, the copyright holders are asked to contact facebook.com/statelibraryqld the State Library of Queensland directly. twitter.com/slqld

Politics & persuasion at slq 12 Cane Toad Times: Poking fun in a police state “It was as close to a youth-led cultural revolution as you could ever get — right here in Queensland.” Seamus Mee, freelance marketing guru, former Cane Toad Times contributor