Mr Kemsley, a former Wingecarribee Shire councillor and a founder of the Bradman Museum, died in Bowral on Monday.

Mr Kemsley’s early career in acting and television included his role as “Skeeter The Paperboy” in The Super Flying Fun Show on the Nine Network.

He studied playwriting at the National Institute of Dramatic Art and later drama at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in England.

He also freelanced in London as both a journalist and cartoonist, while seeing the world as a tour guide with Top Deck Travel.

It was while with Top Deck that Kemsley created his first comic strip, Frogin’ for the company’s passenger magazine.

Mr Kemsley was the fourth artist to draw the 86-year-old comic strip created by Jimmy Bancks.

A family friend of Bancks’ daughter and her husband, Mr Kemsley took over drawing the strip in 1983 after the death of artist Lloyd Piper.

While Ginger Meggs maintained his larrikin character under Mr Kemsley’s stewardship, Mr Kemsley modernised the strip to appeal to contemporary readers.

As well as a comic strip syndicated in newspapers in more than 30 countries, Ginger Meggs has appeared in several comic books written by Mr Kemsley.

Mr Kemsley’s other books include Images of Bradman, with journalist Peter Allen.

Mr Kemsley was named the Australian Cartoonists’ Association’s (ACA) Cartoonist of the Year award in 2001.

He served as president of the ACA in 2005.

A resident of Welby, Mr Kemsley was elected to Wingecarribee Shire Council in 1987 and again in 1991. A keen cricketer, he was a member of the founding board of the Bradman Museum.

His death comes only days after a benefit at the Bradman Museum on Friday, attended by friends including MC Noeline Brown and singer John Williamson.

Mr Kemsley is survived by his wife Helen and sons Jed (James), Hywel and Sebastian.