Michael Leunig Biography and Works.

Michael Leunig, born on June 2, 1945, typically referred to as Leunig, is an Australian poet, cartoonist and cultural commentator.

Some of his best-known works include The Adventures of Vasco Pyjama’ and the ‘Curly Flats’ series. Leunig was born in East Melbourne, Victoria. He went to Maribyrnong High School before entering an arts degree at the Monash University.

He then enrolled at the Swinburne Film and Television School and began his cartoon career.

Leunig’s first marriage to Pamela ended in divorce. He married Helga in 1992. The couple had four children – Gus on Guy Fawkes Day, 1973; Sunny on Valentine’s Day 1975; Minna on Australia Day 1992 and Felix on the Christmas Day, 1995.

Leunig’s first cartoons appeared in the Monash University student newspaper in the late 1960s. He was conscripted in the Vietnam War call-up but registered as a conscientious objector. He was rejected on health grounds when it was revealed that he was deaf in one ear.

His work appeared in the satirical magazine, ‘Nation Review’, ‘Woman’s Day’, ‘London’s Oz magazine’ and also various newspapers in the early 1970s.

Other newspapers that Leunig worked for are the: ‘Fairfax Press’, ‘The Sydney Morning Herald’ and ‘The Age (Melbourne)’. He has focused mainly on political commentary in the recent years.

Leunig was declared an Australian Living Treasure by the National Trust of Australia in 1999.

Trivia

The Australian Broadcasting Corporation has also provided airtime to Leunig to discuss his views on a range of political and philosophical issues.