James Kemsley posthumously awarded Order of Australia Medal · 8 June 2008
The late, great, James Kemsley, from today will forever be remembered as James Kemsley, OAM after he has been awarded the high honour of being awarded the Order of Australia Medal.
The Order of Australia, instituted by Her Majesty, The Queen was established as an Australian society of honour for the purpose of according recognition to Australian citizens and other persons for achievement or for meritorious service.
As soon as I found out James would be posthumously awarded the medal; my thoughts didn’t run to “What?? Wow! That’s amazing!” My very first thought was: “Well of course he is. He was a bloody legend!”
James Kemsley, better known in his later years as the cartoonist who breathed new life into Australia’s longest-running comic strip, Ginger Meggs and turned it into an internationally syndicated Daily and Sunday strip. Although a lot of people who met Kems later in life don’t realise he was also a well-known actor back when he was my age, hosting TV shows on Channel 9 in the 60’s and 70’s.
Kems was known for his affable character “Skeeter the Paper Boy” on Channel 9’s “Super Flying Fun Show.”
The daily show offered a mix of US-based cartoons and viewer competitions. One of his tag lines on the telephone with viewer contestants who were unsuccessful was “Golly gosh!”. When Kemsley left in 1973 to pursue his acting career in London, John Farnham took his place.
The word ‘heyday’ doesn’t really apply to Kems. He always seemed to be at the top of his game at nearly every stage of his life. he lived every moment to the fullest, and dedicated so much time to the things and people he cared about.
He was a true blue Australian, with an undying and unparalleled love of cricket. He was instrumental in establishing the Bradman Museum, and the Don Bradman Foundation.
Kems was also responsible for reviving the ailing Australian Black & White Artists’ Club when it was in considerable debt, and almost dead on its back. He turned it around into the thriving Australian Cartoonists’ Association that it is today.
Kems was one of the most amazing blokes, and one of the best mates I’ve ever had. Losing him in December, after a long and brave fight with Motor Neurone Disease was the saddest and most tragic time for his friends and family. He was one year out from his 60th birthday when he passed away.
I could write a book on James’ lifetime achievements; and believe me it would make a great read- but for now, I’ll just say this:
Kems will be dearly missed by everyone he’d met, but even more dearly remembered for the incredible things he did for those people. His legacy lives on in Ginger Meggs, and in his three equally impressive and talented sons of whom he was immeasurably proud.
