| Summary |
Alston talks about his family background; childhood in Mount Pleasant, W.A.; early interest in drawing; education at Mount Pleasant state schools; interest in technical drawing, English, social studies and geography; caricatures of students and teachers and influence of Rigby cartoons. He then talks about his cadetship in cartographic drafting with the State government; Diploma in Cartography at Wembley Technical College; project mapping; illustrating for government tourist books; re-mapping expeditions; writing and cartooning for Social Club journal and freelance cartooning. Alston then talks about a freehold partnership in a tavern; marriage; travelling to London via New Zealand and US; working for British Gas as cartographer, illustrator and caricaturist; weekly strip "Aussies in London" but no cartooning work.
He then talks about returning to Perth; working on "West Australian"; influence of Rigby, Mitchell, Moir, Cook, Tandberg, Knight, Leak and Petty; changes in own style; techniques; importance of the idea; censorship and self-censorship; awards and reasons for staying in Western Australia.
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| Notes |
Interview conducted in association with the J.S.Battye Library of West Australian History.
Accompanying material: a selection of cartoons and newspaper articles about his work.
Recorded between May 24, 1999 and June 14, 1999.
Digital master; National Library of Australia, Oral History and Folklore collection;
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