Former News Corp cartoonist, co-founder of popular marine animal park Hec Goodall dies at 97

Tributes are flowing for former Coffs Coast Advocate cartoonist and animal advocate Hec Goodall, who was known for living a “unique life”.

A Hec Goodall cartoon, one of many done in his lifetime including for the Coffs Coast Advocate.

When Troy Saville called to donate former News Corp cartoonist and animal advocate Hec Goodall’s body to science after his death, university staff said “We’ve been waiting for him”.

“We always joke about a cartoon in our office and wonder when he’s going to turn up,” staff told Mr Saville, after Mr Goodall had died peacefully at the age of 97 on Monday.

What Mr Saville didn’t know was that along with necessary paperwork, Mr Goodall had given the University of New England a cartoon of himself on a slab being operated upon.

The cartoon commentary was “He wasn’t much use when he was alive and he was probably more useless when he was dead”.

This made sense to Mr Saville as the former Coffs Coast Advocate cartoonist “had a wicked sense of humour”.

Hec Goodall, co-founder of The Pet Porpoise Pool at Coffs Harbour died on 16 June 2025.

Mr Goodall was a co-founder of the Coffs Harbour tourist attraction the Pet Porpoise Pool on Orlando St in 1970.

Mr Saville said his advocacy work spans the length of time he was involved.

“At the time it was first built whaling was still going on at Byron Bay and dolphins were still used as fish bait,” Mr Saville said.

Mr Saville said the centre’s advocacy work contributed towards positive change such as the cessation of using dolphins as fish bait and his contributions to legislation for captive animals.

Hec Goodall, had a passion for marine mammals.

The marine centre was where Mr Saville met Mr Goodall first as a volunteer and then as a worker, inspired with his own lifelong passion for animal welfare.

For the last five years of Mr Goodall’s life he spent it living with the Saville family at their home at the Coffs Harbour Butterfly House in a gesture indicative of their close relationship.

“I got a life of being a dolphin trainer and travelling the world doing absolutely amazing things,” Mr Saville said.

Hec Goodall 1970 in Coffs Harbour.

“But everyone who met Hec had an experience they probably wouldn’t have had in their lives if they hadn’t met him,” Mr Saville said recalling the families who met dolphins, seals, fairy penguins and even wombats.

Mr Saville recalls Mr Goodall had a pragmatic attitude which carried him through his life — from his early days when he rescued marine animals with little equipment to the time he received and concealed an injury in a television interview.

“We had a leopard seal who had been brought to the park,” Mr Saville explained.

Hec Goodall spent many hours caring for the animals at The Pet Porpoise Pool.

”The leopard seal had enough and turned around and bit the end of Hec’s finger off.

“He put his hand in his pocket, so that you couldn’t see the blood and everything else and just went on with the interview.

“And when he finished the interview he pulled his hand out and said the seal had taken the end of his finger off.”

“That’s just how he was,” Mr Saville said.

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Originally published as Former News Corp cartoonist, co-founder of popular marine animal park Hec Goodall dies at 97