Mr Squiggle creator Norman Hetherington has died aged 89. Credit:Lee Besford

The Bulletin published one of his cartoons in 1938, but when World War II broke out a year later Hetherington enlisted, becoming a soldier in the 1st Australian Army Entertainment Unit.

After the war, Hetherington became a successful freelance cartoonist in Sydney and in 1946 was given a job at The Bulletin.

But he continued his puppetry interest and, in 1956, his TV career began after completing training at the ABC.

He created several children's shows for TV before introducing Mr Squiggle, who first appeared as part of the Children's TV Club on the ABC in 1959.