Waltzing Matilda

Michael Salmon was born in Wellington, New Zealand, on April, 4 1949. He joined the famous marionette troupe The Tintookies in 1968, as a stage manager/trainee designer. He was also exibiting cartoons, paintings, set & costume designs and graphics throughout Australia in varied locales including Art Galleries, Theatre Foyers, Football Clubs, Schools, Social Clubs and Commercial Business Areas.

In 1978 ABC National TV gave Salmon his own show Alexander Bunyip`s Billabong, about a character from his first children's book, The Monster that ate Canberra. He performed in a variety of formats including puppetry and full body character suits. The show ran for ten years, until 1988.

Salmon worked in advertising for a while including work with Sanitarium Breakfast Cereals, McDonalds, Westpac Bank, Telecom Australia, Landcare Australia, Westfield Shoppingtown, Australian Tourist Commission, Life Education, The ACT Fire Brigade, The Country Fire Authority of Victoria, The NSW Bushfire Council, The Alannah & Madeline Foundation, The Children's Court of Victoria, APD Snackfoods, Doubleday, Koomarri Handicapped Society, The Puffin Club (UK), Cadburys (UK) , Family Circle Magazine, The Australian Women's Weekly Magazine, Myer Dept. Stores, The National Library of Australia, and The Fire and Emergency Services Authority of Western Australia.

Salmon has written and illustrated over 130 Children's picture storybooks, activity books & educational titles. He has had International and Australian sales of over 10 million books, which have been translated into Spanish, French & Japanese. He has won the YABBA Picture Storybook of the Year for The Monster Who Ate Australia, and four other titles have been Short-listed for the Koala Awards on several occasions. Salmon has also won Toy of the Year, from The Australian Endeavour Award, for Matchbox Toys and 4 Board games.

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