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Behind the Lines

Political Cartoonist of the Year 2020

Through simple loose lines and splashes of colour Cathy Wilcox cuts egos down to size and draws out the best in us.

This year she has pricked people's hearts with her take on events big and small. Reflecting on our nation, she has found a poignant angle to the summer's wildlife disaster and COVID-centric humour with 'any excuse to leave the house'. Yet it is the sharp eye that she casts across both sides of politics that has made her such a deserving recipient of our Political Cartoonist of the Year award. This is the third time that Wilcox, a Sydney-based cartoonist for The Sydney Morning Herald and the Melbourne Age, has been named Political Cartoonist of the Year.

Native animals are labelled as good moral attributes. Pests are labelled as undesirable traits. Text says native species/good traits are at danger of becoming extinct, whilst 'feral pests proliferate.'

Endangered Species

Cathy Wilcox, The Age, The Sydney Morning Herald,

Scott Morrison is in four panels confronted by disaster after disaster. He prays for 'another distraction' each time.

Pray for Distraction

Cathy Wilcox, The Age, The Sydney Morning Herald,

Josh Frydenberg is on one side of a bridge made from money. He says, 'Fingers crossed!' to a woman as she is about to cross. On the other side is a sign saying 'vaccine'.

Bridge to Recovery

Cathy Wilcox, The Age, The Sydney Morning Herald,

A scorpion (Scott Morrison) and a frog (unions) are on one side of a river with a strong current. On the other side is 'Post-COVID recovery land'. The scorpion asks the frog to carry him over the river.

The Scorpion and the Frog

Cathy Wilcox, The Age, The Sydney Morning Herald,

Four 'new monuments' with corresponding text are displayed. Each monument is an ironic comment on a stereotype, for example, 'The leader who felt ashamed'.

New Monuments

Cathy Wilcox, The Age, The Sydney Morning Herald,

At 'Pleasant Meadows Aged Care' home a lady opens the door to the Grim Reaper. She says, 'Ah - you must be the new casual'.

The New Casual

Cathy Wilcox, The Sydney Morning Herald,

A man on steps at a rally asks the crowd, 'Whadda we want?' The crowd responds, 'Any excuse to get out of the house'. The crowd hold up placards asking for more freedoms.

Lockdown Protest

Cathy Wilcox, The Age, The Sydney Morning Herald,

A man and a woman watch TV on a couch. They reflect on pre-pandemic issues such as severe water restrictions due to drought. They now label these as 'Good times'.

Nostalgia

Cathy Wilcox, The Age, The Sydney Morning Herald,

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