Blinky Bill Grows Up

Dorothy Wall (1894-1942), originally from, Wellington, New Zealand, migrated to Sydney in 1914. She won recognition as an illustrator of children's books with her work for J. J. Hall's The Crystal Bowl (1921). Wall continued to illustrate books for other writers, including Jacko—the Broadcasting Kookaburra (1933) and The Amazing Adventures of Billy Penguin (1934) for Brooke Nicholls, and Australians All (1934) for Nellie Grant Cooper. In 1933 she published her most famous book, Blinky Bill: The Quaint Little Australian, based on stories told to her only child, Peter. Blinky Bill Grows Up (1934) and Blinky Bill and Nutsy (1937) followed. Despite the success of Blinky Bill, Dorothy Wall still struggled to establish herself professionally and financially. Divorce and poor health drove her back to New Zealand as a newspaper illustrator, although she returned to Sydney by 1941 looking to reestablish her career as a children's writer. Her health deteriorated, however, and she died of pneumonia on 21 January 1942 at Cremorne.

Julie McGregor is an Australian television actress, best known as Betty Wilson, the red-haired ditzy secretary from Hey Dad...! and its short-lived spinoff Hampton Court. In 1992 McGregor was nominated in the Australian Logie Awards in the 'Most Popular Light Entertainment/Comedy Female Performer' category for Hey Dad...!. She currently lives in the Blue Mountains west of Sydney.