Mr Player’s winning entry, ‘Warm-Up’, features a streaker at a cricket match bending over touching his toes in a warm-up exercise before his de-clothed dash.

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Emcee for the awards night and exhibition opening was Jason West from Kadmium Art and Design Supplies.

Uncle Richard Widders delivered the Welcome to Country before guest speaker Cathy Wilcox, President of the Australian Cartoonists Association, took to the stage.

Ms Wilcox, a highly awarded illustrator and cartoonist who has worked in the industry for more than 30 years, discussed how society can support cartoonists.

“There are fewer and fewer opportunities for paid work for cartoonists,” Ms Wilcox said, encouraging opportunities for government funding.

“Cartooning is such a good way to get ideas out of your head and onto paper,” she said.

An award winning cartoonist of over four decades, Lindsay Foyle was also in attendance at the presentation.

Mr Foyle praised the efforts of everyone involved in the formation of the National Cartoon Gallery and the ongoing awards.

“The National Cartoon Gallery in Coffs Harbour is fantastic.

“It’s the best in the world, running on volunteers and hard work.”

Councillor George Cecato spoke on behalf of the City of Coffs Harbour, highlighting the importance of the cartooning art form.

Having been introduced to cartooning through Rotary 26 years ago, Mr Cecato, a former judge of the award, spoke of how one particular cartoon changed his life forever.

Inaugurated in 1989, the original aims of the awards remain, to promote cartooning and honour the cartoonists of Australia.

The awards allow the Gallery to build a cartoon collection of national significance and promote Coffs Harbour as the cartoon capital of Australia.

“Cartooning is a part of a world without political correctness, where you don’t have to be diplomatic, respectful or even kind,” National Cartoon Gallery Coordinator Carolyn Roelofs quoted.

“It’s a world where you can tell politicians to get it right; religious leaders a few home truths and you can attack the egos of pumped-up sports stars or simply remind ordinary Aussies to take a good look at themselves.

“A privileged world where the pen is still mightier than the sword, anything goes and no one is spared.

“A world where you can say or draw, well almost anything, and get away with it and, even get paid – if you’re lucky.
“Cartooning is the most democratic of art forms and a powerful tool in the armoury of political and social analysis.
“It’s part of our history.”

The 2023 judging panel consisted of Unrealestate Coffs Coast founder and Managing Director Chris Hines; award winning illustrator, animator and digital design whizz Dahna Knight, creator of The Cartoon Chef; and lifetime journalist and current News Of The Area reporter Andrea Ferrari.

The trio spent Wednesday morning, 22 November, at the Gallery individually making their judgements across the six sections, their scores determining the Winners, the Merits as well as the Cartoon of the Year.

The Political category was taken out by Ian Jones, while the Sport category was won by Peter Player, who also took out Cartoon of the Year.

The Caricature section winner was Simon Lee Schneider, with the top Comic Strip gong going to Mark Lynch.

In the Open category, Peter Sully and Phil Day were joint winners.

Terry McGuire from Coffs City Rotary closed the event, issuing a call-out to anyone interested in joining the board of the National Cartoon Gallery.