The Last Snake Man Read online

  army training 210

  birth 18, 207

  boxing 209–10

  dairy employment 26

  dancing 32

  death 213

  house 23

  mesothelioma 213

  pearl 39

  reptile theft from 236–8

  snake shows xii, 21, 28, 131, 147, 187, 211, 252

  snakebites 211–12

  tribute 214–15

  Cann, Helen 142, 164, 167, 169, 189, 252, 253

  courtship 66, 216–17

  employment 66, 224–5

  family 37, 216

  financial difficulties 187

  opinion of snakes 124, 218, 220–1

  red shoe incident 93

  travels 164, 225, 227–8, 231–4

  wedding 116, 218

  Cann, John

  antivenom allergy 137, 142, 145

  athletics 42, 44–52, 68–72, 96, 251

  birth 22, 23

  boxing xiii, 77–9, 83–4, 251

  broken neck 101–4, 251

  cancer 251, 253

  childhood 25–35

  curiosity 196–8

  entertainment industry role 246–8

  expertise xiii, 195–6, 252

  first snake caught xiii, 26

  football, involvement in see football

  interest in snakes 26, 117

  interest in turtles 153, 198–9

  last snake show xi, xiii, 135–6, 252–3

  National Service 54–5

  Nature Boy 59–60

  Order of Australia 195, 228, 252

  publications xiii, 5, 157, 199–200, 205–6, 252, 258, 289

  rickets 24–5, 53, 251

  schooling 42–4

  sight problems 42–3

  snakebites 137–8, 140–5

  speaking engagements 63, 201–2, 252

  specimen collection xiii, 168, 180–9, 205

  stroke 251, 253–4

  train robbery 233–5, 251

  wedding 116, 218

  Cann, John E. 112

  Cann, John ‘Jace’ 221–4, 253–5

  Cann, Moira 35, 237

  Cann, Noreen 20, 25–6, 34–5, 207

  Cann, Paul 148, 221–2, 252–3

  Cann, Vanessa 148

  Carlson, Brian 97–8

  Carr, Dr Archie 155

  cartoon 51

  Caton, Theresa 286

  Chandra, Ram 284

  Chapman, Gary 243–4

  Chinese market gardens 19, 117, 122–3, 208

  Cleopatra, Queen of the Snakes see Cann, Essie

  Cleopatras see snake women

  Cogger, Hal 155

  Commonwealth Serum Laboratories 130, 208, 254, 285

  Couper, Patrick 162

  Cuthbert, Betty 44, 49, 64

  Cuthbert, Marie 44

  Dalton, Vic 115, 167

  Davidson, Les 76, 78–9, 209

  ‘Deadly Australians’ documentary 133

  Death Adder Hill 123

  Deline, Harry 276–7

  Denton, Peter 47, 108

  Ditcham, Bill 14

  Dixon, Darcy 32

  Dorrian, Chris 161, 163

  Dorry, Les 209

  Dumas, Charlie 61

  Duruz, James 1

  Duruz, James Jnr 1–2

  Eades, Tom ‘Pambo’ 263

  Emmott, Angus 293

  Esmerelda see Miller, Alice

  Fallu, Ric 158

  Ferguson, Amy 283, 285

  Finlay, Long Tim 278

  football xiii, 88–9, 97–101, 105, 218, 251

  Australian Rules football 40–1

  Boggabri 105–7

  Country against City 97

  New South Wales team 98–9

  Probables versus Possibles 98

  Riverina Group 20 97

  Tumbarumba 97, 99–100, 103

  underwater 37–9

  Fowler, Walsford 259

  Fox, Professor Fred 3, 5–6, 8, 22, 124, 257, 269, 278

  Fraser, Dawn 57, 59, 64

  Freeman, Alastair 205

  Freshwater Turtles of Australia 205–6

  Furner, Don 100–2

  Gale, Terry 96–7

  ‘Gangway the Cann Way’ 51

  Georges, Professor Arthur 291, 294

  Gero, Gabor 48–50, 69

  Goodacre, Geoff 47, 70–3

  Goode, John 155, 199, 203

  Goodrick, Peggy 286

  Gosper, Kevin 68

  Gow, Graeme 129, 133, 212

  Gow’s Reptile Zoo 164

  Greenhalgh, Arthur 279, 281, 288

  Greenhalgh, Captain 278–9

  Greenhalgh, John 160–6

  Greenhalgh, Miss Eddy 279

  Greenhalgh, Nevada ‘Red’ 279

  Hampton, Billy 32

  ‘Handcuff King’ see Labb, Vince

  Hatte’s Arcade 7

  Hayden, Vic 254

  H.C. Sligh 108

  Henderson, Sara 227

  Hessell, Charlie Jnr 9–10, 265

  Hessell, Charlie Snr 9–10, 265

  Historical Snakeys 200

  Hosmer, Bill 119–20

  Hosmer, Dennis 119

  Huller, Professor Victor 275–6

  Hunter Patterson, John 90

  ICI 194, 248

  Indian Cobra Boy see Chandra, Ram 284

  Irian Barat (Irian Jaya/Papua) 168–9, 172, 177, 187

  Indonesian Institute of Sciences (LIPI) 184–5, 187

  International Union of Conservation of Nature Survival Commission

  Tortoise and Turtle Group 195

  Inverell Highland Games 72–5

  Irvine, Ken 98

  Irwin, Steve 221

  turtle 291

  Jackson, Abe 279–80, 288

  Jedea 281

  Johnny Cann: Nature Boy 252

  Johnson, Rafer 60

  Keeping, William 278

  Kellam, Barry 105–7, 115

  Kellam, Charlie 104–5

  Kelly, Peter 99

  Kerswell, Tom 275

  Kimbel, Anthony 287

  King Leopold III of Belgium 186, 189

  Kinghorn, J.R. 120

  Kirkness, Doug 141

  specimen collecting trip 168–9, 171, 177–81, 183–4, 187–8

  La Belle see Wade, Belle

  La Pa Loop snake pit shows 131, 147–152

  audience 148, 149–50

  last xi, xiii, 135–6, 252–3

  origins xi–xii, 3–6

  routine 147–9

  snake selection 118, 127, 135, 148

  takings 12, 245

  La Perouse 4–5, 17

  Aboriginal community 4, 19

  Customs Building 207

  Frog Hollow 18

  Happy Valley 18

  Hill 60 17–18, 85, 225

  Macquarie Watchtower 5, 19–20

  snake shows see La Pa Loop snake pit shows

  La Perouse Football Club 217

  La Perouse Museum 5

  La Perouse Public School 20, 117

  La Perouse Round House 20, 23

  Labb, Vince 258

  Landy, John 58–9

  Latiefa ‘Queen of Reptiles’ 258, 279, 285

  Lauer, Christa 230, 232–3, 235

  Lauer, Martin 64, 229–33, 235

  Le Pool, Alexie 287

  Le Pool, Charles 287

  Leane, Pat 56, 60

  Leeton 79, 82, 85, 89, 96

  Legler, Professor John 155–7, 159–60, 162–3, 199–200, 226, 292

  Leighton, Captain Gus 285

  Leopard, Leon 170, 189

  Leper Home 121–2

  Limpus, Dr Col 203

  Little Sea Horse see Williams, Ted

  Long Bay Gaol 118, 120

  Longbottom, Willo 76–8, 209

  McCann, Jim 70–1, 97

  McCord, Bill 293

  McGregor, Jimmy 124

  McKenna, Tommy 43

  McLean, Robert 145

  Madigan, Tony 77, 79

  Marco s
ee Miller, Charlie

  Marlo see Miller, Charlie

  Mary River 162–6

  turtle 291

  Mascord, Raymond 123, 199

  Matthews, Marlene 49

  Meekin, Dave 266, 268–9

  Melrose, Andrew 110, 136

  Melrose, William Harry 273

  Meredith, Graham 161

  Miller, Alice 283

  Miller, Charlie 279–80, 283

  Miller, Fred 283, 285

  Miller, John 282–3

  Milo see Miller, Fred

  Miss Kittyhawk see Ada

  Mongta, Peter 80

  Monica Sans see Wade, Belle

  Moroney, Mike 69

  Morrissey, ‘Professor’ Jim 260–5, 269, 271, 278

  ‘Morrissey of the Snakes’ see Morrissey, ‘Professor’ Jim

  Mundy, Alan 101, 112

  Murphy, Harry 196

  Murphy brothers 239–40

  Murray, Jimmy 286

  Necia see Miller, Alice

  Newman, Daniel 1

  Newman, Ellen 1

  Newtown 7

  Nichol, Barry 141

  Nicol, John 239

  Nicol brothers 236–9

  Olympic Games

  Melbourne 1956 xiii, 24, 50, 53, 55–67, 251

  Sydney 2000 torch relay 251

  Order of Australia 195, 228

  Pambara 278

  Paulette the Fan Dancer see Perry, Paula

  ‘Pegleg’ Davis 283–4

  Peisley, Sam 17

  Penny, Tom 39

  Perry, Mick 288

  Perry, Paula 287–8

  Pink, Snowy 287

  Pink, Thelma 287

  ‘The Pit of Death’ 16

  Prince Henry Hospital 31, 56, 66, 110, 121, 130, 142–4

  Princess Indita 258, 262–3, 285

  Pritchard, Peter 155

  Pyree 25–6

  Queensland Museum 195

  Ramsamy, Ted 284

  Randwick–Botany Harriers athletics club 46–7, 50, 68

  Renwick, Jack ‘Blue’ 89–95

  Renwick, Mary 89

  Reynolds, Brucie 81, 111

  Richards, Bob 62–3

  Robichaux, Louis 120

  Rockefeller, Michael 170, 172–5

  Rodgers, Frank 124, 129–30

  Rolfe, Alex ‘Sandy’ 271

  Royal Easter Show 83, 208, 279, 284, 286

  Sadlier, Ross 206

  See, Garnett 8–9

  Shar, Nazir 284

  Short, Keith 51

  Sintau 277–8

  Slater, Ken 137–40, 208

  Smith, Keith 46, 53, 252

  Smith, Sylvester 220

  snake handling xii, 118–19, 127, 134–6, 259–60

  ‘snake-oil salesmen’ xiii, 259, 282

  snake shows

  La Perouse see La Pa Loop snake pit shows

  snake women xi, 14, 257–8, 260, 285–8 see also by name

  snakebites

  antidote xii, 22, 132, 259, 261–4

  antivenom see antivenom

  Cann, George 10–11, 16, 128–30, 135

  Cann, George Morris 211

  Cann, John 137–8, 140–5, 251

  casualties 131, 136

  first-aid 140, 149

  resistance/immunity xii, 9, 127, 132, 137, 257, 283

  wound scarification 22, 128–9, 263–4, 277

  snakes

  adders 123

  black 119, 122, 124, 135, 143, 148

  black tiger 16, 286

  black-market trade 236

  brown 9, 118–19, 122, 130–1, 134, 139–40, 145–6, 148, 246

  carpet 148

  catching 19, 25, 99, 110–11, 113–14, 117–19, 122–5, 128, 130–1, 136–9, 211

  Clarence River (Emydura macquarii binjing) 140

  coastal taipan 133–4

  copperhead 148

  death adder 123, 148

  diamond python 148

  disposition 134–5

  fang removal xiii, 257, 259, 282

  genetics 134

  immunity to venom 133

  interest in 26, 117

  island taipan/fierce snake 133

  king brown/mulga 114–15

  krait 9

  milking xii, 26, 123, 208, 257, 259

  New Guinea taipan (Oxyuranus scutellatus canni) 134, 137

  red-bellied black xiii, 7, 110–11, 124, 127–8

  rough-scaled 140

  taipan 146

  tiger xiii, 10, 17, 22, 117, 122–4, 128–30, 132, 134–6, 138, 142, 146, 208–9, 220–1, 246, 254

  Snakes Alive 5, 200, 258, 289

  Snakey George 6–7, 11, 122, 131

  snakeys 257–60 see also by name

  fellowship 9

  immunity to venom 21

  publication 200, 258, 289

  tradition xii, 5–6, 15–16

  Steele, Harry 190–2

  Stevenson, Gary 159, 162

  Sutherland, Dr Struan 143–4, 212

  Swanson, Steve 162

  Tanner, Ann 55, 59–60

  Tanner, Charlie 132, 203, 219

  Taronga Park Zoo 20, 26–7, 119, 161, 207, 284

  Tasker, Knut 232

  That Man Gray 281–2

  Thieschinger, Professor Gunther 202

  Thompson, Jack 247, 249

  tortoises 154 see also turtles

  Trouble in Paradise 247–9

  Tumbarumba 97, 99, 104, 112

  turtles xiii, 113, 115

  ‘black head’ 162, 166

  black-market trade 236

  C. canni 204

  C. longicollis 293–4

  Cann’s (C. rankini) 203–4, 293–4

  Chelodina canni 203–4

  conservation 205–6

  discovered 154–61, 166, 252, 291–3

  eastern snake-neck (Chelodina longicollis) 203

  Elseya 165, 197

  Elseya bellii 293

  Emmott’s (Emydura macquarii emmotti) 293

  Emydura 165, 204, 292

  Emydura canni 292

  Emydura macquarii 204–5

  genetics 203–4, 294

  Fitzroy River (Rheodytes leukops) 292

  Fraser Island short-neck (Emydura macquarii nigra) 293

  freshwater (Carettochelys) 177, 180

  Freshwater Turtles of Australia 205–6

  Georges’ (Wollumbinia georgesi) 204, 291

  Hunter River (Emydura macquarii gunabarra) 292

  Irwin’s (Elseya irwini) 291

  Krefft’s (Emydura krefftii) 163, 165

  Kuchling’s (Chelodina kuchlingi) 291

  long-neck 153–4, 294

  Macleay River (Emydura macquarii dharra) 292

  Macquarie (Emydura macquarii) 154–5

  Mary River (Elusor macrurus) 291

  natural hybrid species 293–4

  northern long-neck (m. Chelodina (macrochelodina) oblonga regosa) 204

  northern snapping (Elseya dentata) 163–4

  northern yellow-face (Emydura tanybaraga) 292

  ‘pet-shop’ 156–8, 165–6

  pig-nose 181

  re-discovery 293

  saw-shell (Elseya latisternum) 156, 158

  short-neck 154

  ‘short-neck alpha’ 157–60

  Sydney Basin (Emydura macquarii dharuk) 292

  theft 237–9

  Wollumbinia latisternum 204

  United States

  talks 63, 201–2, 252

  University of Phoenix 72

  Vagne, Lindsay Herbert see Vane, Rocky

  Vane, Joyce 274–5

  Vane, Rocky 12, 18, 20, 264, 270–5

  Venitia see Wade, Belle

  ‘Voice of the bush—a tribute to George Cann’ 214–15

  Vonita the Snake Lady see Pink, Thelma

  Vowels, George 282

  Wade, Belle 279–81, 285, 288

  Wade, Fred 279–81, 288

  Walker, Desi 56

  Wamoon 88–9, 97

  Wamoon Footba
ll Club 89, 97

  Wanless, Tom 10, 264–70, 287

  Watamena 179–80

  water dragon 147–8, 154, 255

  Wattle Hill 85, 87–8

  Welch, Raquel xiii, 247, 249–50

  West, Eric 137

  West Papua 168–9, 172–9, 182–9, 251

  Whitley, Dorothy 272–3

  Wiener, Dr Saul 132

  Willesee, Mike 133

  Williams, Ted 12–13

  Wilson, Vern 61

  Wing, John Ian 65

  Witt-Gibbens, Dr 202

  Woodall-Duckham 190

  Worrell, Eric 99, 109, 125

  achievements 20, 123

  expertise 17, 120, 141

  Song of the Snake 283

  venom milking 123, 130, 208

  Zillah, the Tasmanian Bush Girl 286