Footrot flattery after many years

By JO-MARIE BROWN

A cartoonist who captured the Kiwi character and humour through a farmer and his dog has been made an officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit.

Murray Ball's Footrot Flats, starring black-singleted, gumboot-wearing Wal Footrot and his ever-optimistic companion Dog, was syndicated in newspapers worldwide.

About six million copies of the 27 books have been sold and the 1986 movie Footrot Flats - A Dog's Tale remains a New Zealand classic.

"Initially I think it went quite well because it was fairly close to our national character," Ball said yesterday.

The 63-year-old was flattered by the honour but slightly bemused because he stopped drawing Footrot Flats eight years ago.

Born in Feilding, Ball became a cartoonist for the Manawatu Times when he was 19.

He said Footrot Flats filled a need for an indigenous daily cartoon for New Zealanders.

Incidents on Ball's own farm in Gisborne found expression through Wal, Dog, Cooch, Horse, Aunt Dolly and the rest of the Footrot Flats cast. They made their debut in Wellington's Evening Post in 1976.

"A lot of the things I draw actually happened to me and were quite painful," said Ball. "It's only hindsight that makes it possible to laugh."