About Jim Bridges,
“Folks, let me tell you about Jim Bridges, a man who turned trash into treasure faster than you can say ‘Garfield hates Mondays.’ This guy, working as a cleaner for Ansett Airlines, had the brilliant idea to start hoarding newspapers and magazines left on planes instead of tossing them out. I mean, who needs Marie Kondo when you’ve got Jim Bridges, right?
For 12 years, this cartoon connoisseur meticulously collected strips, caricatures, and political cartoons like they were going out of style. And let’s be honest, in the age of digital media, they kind of were. But Jim didn’t care. He amassed a collection of about 3 million cartoons and article clippings, not to mention a treasure trove of books, toys, and cartoon knick-knacks that would make even the most ardent hoarder blush.
Fast forward 37 years, and Jim’s dream finally came true. ‘The Australian Cartoon Museum’ opened its doors, providing a home for this insane collection of Aussie cartoon history. It’s like if the Louvre and a Sunday comics section had a baby, and that baby grew up to be really, really Australian.
Now, I know what you’re thinking: ‘this sounds too good to be true.’ Well, it kind of was. The physical museum in Melbourne’s Docklands is no more, but Jim’s legacy lives on through the magic of the internet. Because if there’s one thing the world needs more of, it’s cartoon history preserved in the digital ether.
So here’s to Jim Bridges, the man who saw the future in yesterday’s news, and turned a cleaning job into a lifelong mission to preserve the art of making people laugh on paper. And remember, folks, the next time you leave a magazine on a plane, you might just be contributing to the next great museum. Or, you know, just making a mess. Either way, someone’s job just got more interesting.”
