Image right: Pam Bishop and Thumper the Chinchilla rabbit at home, 17 Ravenna Street, Strathfield
When 11-year-old Pam Bishop of 17 Ravenna Street Strathfield won the ‘prettiest pet’ competition at Burwood Central School during October 1948, Pix Magazine thought it worth visiting her at home to meet Thumper the Chinchilla rabbit. The series of photos taken on that day are now in the collection of the State Library of NSW and were published in Pix during November that year. Dressed in clothes made by Pam herself, Thumper sat in a highchair for meals. He was taken for walks around the district in a pram made by Pam’s father, wearing a silk dress, mittens and bootees. Although he liked Fido, the dog, he was not keen on other people, preferring Pam’s company alone. Pam was the daughter of engineer, Frederick Bishop and his wife, Eileen who moved into their cottage in Strathfield, where Pam grew up, during the early years of World War II. Eileen’s sister, Madge lived next door at number 19.
You can read the article in Pix Magazine Vol.21 No.20, 27 November 1948 at:
https://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-474953045/view?sectionId=nla.obj-484352568&searchTerm=rabbit+strathfield+bishop&partId=nla.obj-474969349#page/n10/mode/1up/search/rabbit+strathfield+bishop
Pam Bishop and Thumper, the Chinchilla rabbit, 19 October 1948. Courtesy State Library of NSW. See: https://collection.sl.nsw.gov.au/record/94RXoZK1
By J.J. MacRitchie
Local Studies Advisor