Sunday, July 29, 2012

Woobinda

Yesterday I bought a pile of vintage Little Golden Books from the op- shop where I used to volunteer. It cost me $2.50 for 15 of them (and that's without a(n ex) staff discount. Most of them were published in 1973, but the earliest, Wagon Train, was published in 1958. 

I still love Ladybirds more than LGBs but when LGBs are of this vintage and so cheap what's a girl to do???

One of them is called 

published 1973

and to say it's not what I've come to expect from a LGB would be a massive understatement.

Woobinda starts off inanely enough: it's the story of John Stevens outback veterinarian and his daughter Tiggie. Other characters include Peter Fisher, John's offsider (a recent vet graduate from Germany(!?) and Kevin, an Aboriginal boy, adopted by John.

Remind you of anything ?

It's on the third and fourth page when things start to get interesting. Look


"After receiving treatment, most of the animals are handed over to...Tiggie"

You'll see more of Tiggie in a sec.

Here she is on page five


Not the usual stuff of Little Golden Books. No Eloise Wilkin in this one. They weren't meant for thirteen year old boys...were they?

"She is half in love with Peter" (half in love?) "who treats her like a younger sister"

(Peter is a far stronger and more virtuous man than many! Jeez, he'd have to be, to resist Tiggie's very obvious charms!)

Anyway, as I was flicking through Woobinda in wonderment (a pet chimpanzee makes an appearance on page fourteen, remember we're talking outback NSW!)




the penny finally dropped. A quick google search later and my suspicions were confirmed. LGB Woobinda is based on a 1968 television series and Tiggie provides the sex appeal.

Here's a publicity pic of Sonia Hofmann, the actress who played Tiggie

image via

Sonia also had a role in the short-lived Australian series, The Unisexers (that's more like it!) in the 70's.

Did you watch Woobinda when you were a kiddo?
Skippy the Bush Kangaroo  was must watch viewing when I was little, on the telly straight after school, but until now I had never heard of Woobinda.

I like how old stuff teaches you new things, don't you?
I think Woobinda is a little gem. I'm glad my ability to resist temptation is not up there with Peter Fisher's. If I had his strength of conviction and steely determination I would've walked out of the oppy without it.

he doesn't mind a cuddle with a chimp though...

x



p.s.

just a little aside you might be interested in, last year Liza Goddard, the actor who played Clancy in Skippy the Bush Kangaroo had this to say:

"I wish I had flashed it around, as I had a lovely body, but I was prim and lacked confidence. Now I tell all the lovely young girls I work with, 'You’re gorgeous. Show it off.'"

So there!

p.p.s. Woobinda is meant to be an Aboriginal word for veterinarian, but I cannot verify this.


Linking with Sophie's Flea Market Finds here







   



    

17 comments:

  1. I had this LGB as a kid.
    It's pretty raunchy as far as golden books go isnt it.
    I'll have to keep a look out for this one to add to the collection.
    x

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  2. This is a funny post Kylie...Tiggie would have certainly been popular in outback NSW in her modern clothing :)

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  3. There's a lot in that LGB that made my eyes pop. Least of all a chimp with a wrist watch, and the asp up the tree in the illustration of Tiggie and her brotherly-love-interest Peter. Va Va Va Voom.

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  4. So funny how she is carrying that lamb. I don't know much about the old LGBs but I picked one up at an estate sale that was illustrated by Richard Scarry in the 40s and I love it. Thanks for sharing this gem!

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  5. She's an outback Barbarella! I will never look at LGB the same again!

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  6. Go Tiggie! She has the look of Ursula Andress emerging from the sea in Doctor No, only with a lamb instead of sea shells. I remember Skippy but not Woobinda. Glad you indulged and bought the books, Kylie! xxx

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  7. OMG....I think a Mills & Boon got mixed up with a GB for SURE....hahahaha....!!

    I'm with you....Ladybirds ROCK but when you come across a bunch of vintage GB's you don't have a choice other than to snap 'em up quick smart....!!!!!

    Hope you've had a WONDERFUL weekend Lovey....!

    Cheers,
    Tamarah :o)

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  8. You really do get some fantastic bargains Kylie. This book is amazing - like you I started reading your post expecting the conventional and then BAM - the picture with the lamb. Its mind blowing! I've never heard of this story before - but then if it is based on a TV show we only got TV where I grew up in SA in the mid 70's and by that time I was past the kiddies shows (although I'm not sure what this one would have qualified as!)

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  9. Huh! That is quite the LGB you score there Kylie! Who on earth was that aimed at! Maybe getting the Dads to read to their children hehe. So funny we are watching Skippy play marbles with Sonny right now! Borrowed a season from the video (!!) shop and it has been quite fun although interesting what was deemed child friendly viewing. Will have to hunt down a Woobinda episode now ;)

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  10. Ha! What a great find! I just want to find tiggies bikini down the oppy now, isn't it awesome!

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  11. LOVE it! What a classic and as always, love your storytelling.

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  12. Wow! Little Golden Books do a Page 3 girl. On Page 5.

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  13. That did all make me chuckle ...thanks for the little tour through the book. xx

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  14. blinkin' 'ell!!! that snake... my, my...
    i'm a tad more informed on outback entertainment, no doubt... grand, kylie!
    n♥

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  15. haha! never heard of this but wow! she's pretty hot! haha

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  16. What a fantastic find! I just love a good op shop (or charity shop as they are called in the UK).

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