Jeff Hook facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Geoff Hook
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| Born |
Geoffrey Raynor Hook
27 December 1928 Hobart, Tasmania, Australia
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| Died | 20 July 2018 (aged 89) Frankston, Victoria, Australia
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| Nationality | Australian |
Geoffrey Raynor Hook (born December 27, 1928 – died July 20, 2018), known as Jeff Hook, was an Australian artist. He was famous for drawing cartoons in newspapers.
Jeff was married to Pauline starting in 1961. They had five children together.
Contents
Meet Geoff Hook, the Cartoonist!
His Early Life and Start in Art
Jeff Hook went to St Virgil's College in Hobart, Tasmania. After school, he began working at a newspaper called The Mercury. He started as a cadet press artist. This means he was learning to draw for the newspaper.
He also studied graphic arts at Hobart Technical College. This helped him learn more about drawing and design. Soon, he became a part-time cartoonist for The Mercury. He signed his drawings simply as "Jeff."
The Famous Fish Hook!
In 1964, Jeff moved to Melbourne. He started working for a big newspaper called The Sun News-Pictorial. He quickly became their main cartoonist.
It was around this time that Jeff started doing something special. He began hiding a tiny fish hook in all his cartoons! Finding this hidden fish hook became a fun game for readers every morning. It was his unique trademark.
Cartoons That Made a Mark
Jeff Hook became famous around the world in 1967. This happened because of a cartoon he drew called "The three wiser men." It was about the end of the Six-Day War. This cartoon was printed in many places outside Australia, even in The Times newspaper in London.
He won several awards for his amazing work. In 1987, he won an award for Humorous Illustration. He also won the Best Political Cartoon award in Belgium that same year. In 1991, he won Best Press Cartoon at the same festival.
From Daily Cartoons to Painting
Jeff retired from drawing daily cartoons for the Herald Sun in 1993. The Herald Sun was formed when The Sun News-Pictorial merged with another newspaper. Even after retiring, he still drew a regular cartoon for the Sunday Herald Sun.
He also started spending more time on his other passion: painting. By the year 2000, he mostly stopped cartooning. He had his first art show at the Australian Guild of Realist Artists gallery. After that, he focused on painting full-time. His paintings were shown in many art shows and galleries across Australia.
Books for Kids and Big Awards
Over his career, Jeff Hook drew cartoons and pictures for many newspapers, magazines, and 46 books. This included two children's books called Harry the Honkerzoid and Planet of the Honkerzoids. His son, Brendan, wrote these books.
Jeff also wrote and illustrated his own children's book. It was called Jamie the Jumbo Jet. It was first published in the 1970s and then updated in 1998.
After he stopped cartooning full-time, Jeff received more honors. In 1998, he got the Silver Stanley Award for his lifetime achievements in cartooning. In 2009, the Melbourne Press Club gave him a lifetime achievement award. In 2012, he received an Order of Australia Medal. This award was for his great service to print media as a cartoonist and commentator.
Being Part of the Art World
Jeff Hook was a life member of many important groups. These included the Australian Cartoonists' Association and The Melbourne Press Club. He was also a patron of the Amputees Association of Victoria. He was a member of the Australian Guild of Realist Artists too.
