Famed Aussie cartoonist Michael Leunig dies
<p>Acclaimed Australian cartoonist and writer Michael Leunig has died at the age of 79. </p>
<p>His family confirmed the news on Instagram, sharing that he spent his last moments on Thursday, “surrounded by his children, loved ones, and sunflowers”. </p>
<p>“The pen has run dry, its ink no longer flowing — yet Mr. Curly and his ducks will remain etched in our hearts, cherished and eternal,” a post on his official Instagram account said.</p>
<p>“Michael Leunig passed away peacefully today, in the early hours of December 19, 2024."</p>
<p>“During his final days, he was surrounded by his children, loved ones, and sunflowers — accompanied as ever, by his dear old friends, Johann Sebastian Bach and Ludwig van Beethoven.”</p>
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<p>Throughout his stellar career, his artwork featured in the <em>Sydney Morning Herald</em> and <em>The Age</em>, before he was controversially stood down from <em>The Age</em> in September after 55 years with the publication after some of his cartoons were thought to be too politically sensitive.</p>
<p>Cartoonist for <em>The Australian</em> newspaper John Spooner told <em>ABC Radio Melbourne</em> the loss of Leunig felt "pretty huge", adding that working alongside Leunig at The Age in the mid 80s was "a riot of fun". </p>
<p>"Leunig was a leader in the sense that he was an experimenter in graphic possibilities in newspapers, you know, like a half page full colour political or social cartoon," Spooner said.</p>
<p>"A lot of the people who love <em>The Age </em>don't realise the depth of his contribution to the idea of The Age, which was essentially pluralistic, in other words, both sides of an argument got a run."</p>
<p><em>Herald Sun</em> cartoonist Mark Knight also paid tribute to Leunig, saying, “It is a great loss, he was referred to as a national treasure and he was.”</p>
<p>“As a kid I would buy his books – the famous Penguin Leunig was my great introduction to cartoons. I owe him a debt of gratitude. He had controversies with his cartoons, but I think he is bigger and more profound than cancel culture.”</p>
<p><em>Image credits: Instagram</em></p>
