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Hart Beresford-Hartnoll – Stirring the Possum

Brendan Kelly

In every generation comes a shooting star. Newspaperman Hart Beresford-Hartnoll flashed across the Western Australian sky and died young. He was one of the youthful successors of the legendary editor of the Fremantle Herald, the powerful James Pearce. Hartnoll also entered into the orbit of his contemporary, the all-encompassing journalist Francis J.E. ‘Jerry’ Hart. The namesake Harts were equally incisive in the art of scornful broadcasting. They lampooned and mocked unmercifully their perceived political enemies, crafting and cultivating their own partisan crusade.

In July 1887 Hartnoll issued the Possum, a caustic and opinionated Fremantle ‘comic’ newspaper. The following year he incorporated the the Possum into a broader new sheet, The WA Bulletin. This brought him together with the hard-nosed Jerry Hart, outgoing editor of the vinegary mid-west Victoria Express. From 1888 to 1890 the two provided incorrigible newspaper editorialising across Perth and Fremantle. While perhaps not being esteemed by the more respectable newspapers, Hartnoll’s comic lithographic production was taken to by certain readers for its extravagant and waspish caricature.

If the Possum existed to stir, it is first worth noting the origins of ‘stirring the possum’. The term is considered truly Australian. Recorded in the Sydney Truth in 1900, literally “to excite interest or controversy”, to stir the possum is a rousing act. Most feasibly, the derivation is about disturbing a possum during the day. These nocturnal creatures are likely to react with a growl, a bite or a scratching claw. Certainly, stirring a possum elicits a response. It is sure that Hartnoll established his comic lithograph Possum for precisely that reason. His weekly press would liven things up. 1

On Saturday 30 July 1887, Hartnoll led the first edition of the Possum with an announcement of intent. ‘Introductory Squeak’, appeared under the Latin banner ‘TEMPORA O ! MORES’, literally “The times, O the customs”. 2 This quotation from Cicero is meant as an exclamation of despair at prevailing social or political norms. Hartnoll wrote:

To think that even the shy little the Possum should make so bold as to come out from the shelter of the forest to take part with sinner and publican in this public anniversary in honor of his most gracious Queen. Tho' his tree knows no bells, and his pouch no nobles, he can at least ring his tail in honor of the occasion. But his naturally furtive disposition has compelled him, after consultation with his neighbours, John the ploughman, Pat the fencer, and Sandy the shepherd, to appear only as an "Evening Peeper," which, as Pat says, "Will be more shootable." His endeavours, however, will certainly be to "shoot" the public, and hit them on their funny bones—their comical sides so to speak —but he will insert his claws, if necessary, into any obnoxious Bills (especially bad People's Bills), and he hopes his leaves will be a chef d'œuvre to temper the wind from any shorn lambs. And, trusting all will twig his meaning, he begs respectfully to make his bow to the public. 3

It was an intrepid introduction to what became a pastiche of the style of Punch, the British weekly magazine of humour and satire. Editions of the the Possum were beset with references that required the reader to read between the lines. Cryptic statements to those ‘in-the-know’ could be loaded with invective, clever enough to avoid legal trouble, but pointedly poking disrespect at any perception of humbug. The the Possum mocked the ruling class and administrative lackeys under a comical crusader’s banner. Its sharp-tongued judgement of the colony’s government, administration, and pretentiousness tickled the readership. Hartnoll made a habit of creeping up on Perth’s elite.

Looked at nowadays, much of the the Possum could be described as ridiculous. The column ‘Side View’ shillyshallied between silly one-liners and pointed jibes - “A man at Fremantle recently went to the circus and wished to enter at half-price because he had but one eye”. Oblique references to real people begged interpretation - “The attendance was large, all the celebrities of the day being present. The mayor of the Port was present, with something over his arm which looked like his municipal robe, and all the servant maids in Perth were there in strong force. It was really a most aristocratic gathering”. Impudent references to an Alderman and servant maids tickled some people’s imagination. 4

Whereas columns with banners such as ‘Parliamentary Pickles’ and ‘Whispers’ jibed at the civic fathers, the Possum was not short of clever satire. The opening session of the Legislative Council was parodied:

In consequence of the severe pressure of work which has inundated the poor “Possum" this week, we have been compelled to send our superannuated reporter, old Uncle Bungle, to take the notes of the opening of Council. Unfortunately the poor old gentleman has been so completely upset by the proceedings, that he has sent such bad copy we have been unable to make head or tail of it. However, as we are determined not to deprive the eager public of their quantum of news, we give them the fragmentary notes of our fossil. 5

What followed was a doddering report, purportedly scribed by Uncle Bungle, describing the goings-on. The writer has cleverly namechecked politicians and branded the proceedings from the beginning - “The Council is opened, and we have to wait outside for half an hour before we are allowed to enter and see the show. Get inside with our hair on”. Uncle Bungle then names the absentee politicians, wondering why they weren’t there, suggesting that perhaps they hadn’t got the creases out of their best suits. He then satirically describes how one member “looked well in his white trousers”, having “the appearance of being a thorough Statesman”, while a third appears “filled bung up with diplomacy”. Mr Shenton (the Hon. George), supposedly smiling at the ladies in the gallery “waltzed up to the table and took a single sheet of copy paper and returned with dignity and the paper to his seat”. Meanwhile “All the sisters and the cousins and the aunts of the members were present, sitting round on chairs and waiting for their relations to shake the universe with their eloquence”. The piece is an historic ‘piss-take’.

After six months, not without greater criticism, Hartnoll changed the the Possum to the WA Bulletin, addressing “all those whom it may concern” by way of his proprietor’s pen:

This valuable journal, which is now looked upon by the public as the personification of truth, will on Saturday next and through futurity be issued under the title of—the WA Bulletin (with which is incorporated the Possum.) In bringing before the public a new series of this (at present) little paper we hope to retain the generous support which has hitherto been accorded to our efforts. We trust that our readers will take into consideration the difficulties which have to be contended against in producing a newspaper of this class in a small community like ours. In striving for the humorous it is sometimes difficult to steer clear of personalities, but this we would avoid. One stand we shall take and that is —To expose all abuses and to advocate those measures conducive to the public weal.

The Bulletin was an improved production of the the Possum, with better social and political commentary and more cartooning under the skilled hand of Herbert Gibbs, father of May. The paper subsequently attracted added advertising, appealing to its readers through strong columns such a ‘Grape & Canister’, ‘Ink Splashes’ and the enduring ‘Whispers’. Short humorous pieces, satirical verse and gossip kept the readers aboard. Perhaps looking to shmooze the readers, editor Hartnoll wrote by way of introduction – “As our motto puts it Verbum Sat Sapienti - "A word is enough for a wise man"- dear friends and brother sinners you, we hope, are all wise”. 6

Critical to the success of the Bulletin was the entry of the whiplash journalist and editor Jerry Hart. In April 1888, Hart and his wife Lilian, also an accomplished writer, moved to Fremantle. Hart played an adversarial role as a media antagonist in Western Australia between 1882 and 1896. He had first drifted into journalism with the Fremantle Herald, under James Pearce. Thereafter he became the premier critic of all things on the Swan. Nicknamed ‘Cocky’ for his garrulous and shoot-from-the-hip newspaper commentary, he was at one time tagged as the best hated man in the community. Hart was a self-promoting penman and editor of extraordinary volume and quality, capable of taking-it-up to the best of society. His large circle of influential friends were wary of his targeted invective, mindful not to find themselves at the end of his acerbic nib.

While it was open the Bulletin bellowed loudly about the affairs of the colony. However it proved to be unsustainable from a financial point of view. The facts remained that a so called ‘comic’ paper was a very expensive business to run. It could only exist in a big population with many subscribers, capable of appreciating its sharp-edged wit, and paying for it. Competition increased and sales decreased As it was put – “A large population, is necessary, even to enable the writers to be free with the appearance and foibles of public men. It will not do to make fun of anyone in a small community. But where there is no room for this kind of thing, a comic paper is nothing”.

The Bulletin closed and its obituary was written, ironically in Jerry Hart’s old newspaper, the Victoria Express. It was somewhat gracious:

Looking at everything, the W. A. Bulletin deserved a better fate. The drawings manifested very considerable ability, and during the latter part of its career the letter-press might vie with that of its Sydney name-sake, allowing for the want of material at the writer's disposal. But it is gone, and will probably never be again revived.

Hart Beresford-Hartnoll died as the result of consumption (tuberculosis) in early January 1893. He had been married in 1888, to Matilda, the second daughter of Mr. William Osborne, of Perth. They had lost an infant child in 1892. The disease from which Hart had suffered during the final months of his life was terminal. His place in Western Australia’s rollicking newspaper years, rests hidden among the excitement of the era.

SOURCES

1. The Australian National Dictionary, 1988 (‘Stir the Possum’, p.496).

2. ‘O Tempora O Mores’ Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, Accessed 22/10/2023.

3. ‘Introductory Squeak’ - The Possum Sat 30 Jul 1887 Page 2

4. ‘Side Views’ - The Possum, Saturday 29 October 1887 - Page 5.

5. Article - The Possum, Saturday 17 December 1887 - Page 5.

6. Article - The W.A. Bulletin, Saturday 4 February 1888 - Page 6

7. Article – The Victoria Express, Saturday 30 August 1890 - Page 5.

References and Links

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This page incorporates material from Garry Gillard's Freotopia website, that he started in 2014 and the contents of which he donated to Wikimedia Australia in 2024. The content was originally created on 11 May, 2024 and hosted at freotopia.org/people/beresfordhartnoll.html (it was last updated on 11 May, 2024), and has been edited since it was imported here (see page history). The donated data is also preserved in the Internet Archive's collection.