Hi there,
for those of you who haven't heard along the grapevine, John Cann will be giving his last public show at the snake pit in La Perouse (Sydney) this weekend. The snake pit in Larpa has been hosting shows since 1897, and the Cann family have been doing regular shows for nearly a century. The contribution they have made to public education about reptiles is extraordinary when you consider that their family committed to the show for love and not for profit. I understand that the Hawkesbury Herp Society will be taking over the show, and I'm sure they will do a great job, ....but this Sunday represents the end of an era. Don't miss the chance to see John give his show one last time.
His show starts at 1pm and I'm not sure when they finish. The show is at 'the loop' at the end of Anzac Parade in La Perouse in Sydney. Just look for Cann Park and the big crowd of people.
After the piece on the 7.30 report mid week and the front page news on the local rag I expect there will be a big crowd. I hope a good crowd of people turn out to send him off. Hope to see you there
regards
Matthew
The end of an Era
The final page of the long history of the 'La Perouse Snake Man' will be turned this weekend when the area will farewell its last snake handler. The Snake Man's origins in La Perouse date back to the early 20th century but the most enduring name associated with this history is that of the Cann family. But the Cann line of "snakies", which dates back to 1919, will come to an abrupt end on April 18, when La Perouse's last Snake Man, John Cann, retires.
(B. Cormack, Southern Courier)
Mr Cann's involvement was following in family footsteps. His mother, Essie Bradley, was the first snake woman of Tasmania; his father, George Cann snr, was running a snake show in Hatte's Arcade in Newtown by age 13. After fighting in France during World War I, George snr returned in 1919 to take over the loop in La Perouse, a snake pit that had hosted performances since 1897.
The pit's previous operators had been a colourful, if luckless, lot: its founder, Professor Frederick Fox, died after being bitten by a krait in Calcutta; the next operator, Garnett See, was killed in 1913 by a brown snake at his first La Perouse show; Tom Wanless, a subsequent owner, died in 1921, struck by a green mamba during a demonstration in South Africa.
In 1938, Cann snr became the curator of reptiles at Taronga Park Zoo, but continued to run the loop on weekends, with help from his young sons, George jnr and John. When their father died of a stroke in 1965, the sons took over.
(Tim Elliott, January 23, 2010, SMH)
John and his brother, George ran the show for more than 40 years before George passed away. John continued the family tradition alone of presenting weekly shows, but the time has come for him to pull up stumps.
The Cann family contribution to public education about reptiles is epic. Week in and week out for many decades they have quietly gone about their business of providing public shows. He and his family have educated and inspired generations of Australians. For that we are extremely grateful. John will hand the show over to the Hawkesbury Herpetological Society, but this weekend is the last opportunity to see him give his show.
John is looking forward to having the time to travel with his wife and to pursue his interest in freshwater turtles. He wants to "go camping, get out and about, There's still lots to see out there." We wish him all the best!
References: the above combines extracts from articles by Tim Elliott, January 23, 2010, Sydney Morning Herald and Briget Cormack, Southern Courier, 1/4/10
for those of you who haven't heard along the grapevine, John Cann will be giving his last public show at the snake pit in La Perouse (Sydney) this weekend. The snake pit in Larpa has been hosting shows since 1897, and the Cann family have been doing regular shows for nearly a century. The contribution they have made to public education about reptiles is extraordinary when you consider that their family committed to the show for love and not for profit. I understand that the Hawkesbury Herp Society will be taking over the show, and I'm sure they will do a great job, ....but this Sunday represents the end of an era. Don't miss the chance to see John give his show one last time.
His show starts at 1pm and I'm not sure when they finish. The show is at 'the loop' at the end of Anzac Parade in La Perouse in Sydney. Just look for Cann Park and the big crowd of people.
After the piece on the 7.30 report mid week and the front page news on the local rag I expect there will be a big crowd. I hope a good crowd of people turn out to send him off. Hope to see you there
regards
Matthew
The end of an Era
The final page of the long history of the 'La Perouse Snake Man' will be turned this weekend when the area will farewell its last snake handler. The Snake Man's origins in La Perouse date back to the early 20th century but the most enduring name associated with this history is that of the Cann family. But the Cann line of "snakies", which dates back to 1919, will come to an abrupt end on April 18, when La Perouse's last Snake Man, John Cann, retires.
(B. Cormack, Southern Courier)
Mr Cann's involvement was following in family footsteps. His mother, Essie Bradley, was the first snake woman of Tasmania; his father, George Cann snr, was running a snake show in Hatte's Arcade in Newtown by age 13. After fighting in France during World War I, George snr returned in 1919 to take over the loop in La Perouse, a snake pit that had hosted performances since 1897.
The pit's previous operators had been a colourful, if luckless, lot: its founder, Professor Frederick Fox, died after being bitten by a krait in Calcutta; the next operator, Garnett See, was killed in 1913 by a brown snake at his first La Perouse show; Tom Wanless, a subsequent owner, died in 1921, struck by a green mamba during a demonstration in South Africa.
In 1938, Cann snr became the curator of reptiles at Taronga Park Zoo, but continued to run the loop on weekends, with help from his young sons, George jnr and John. When their father died of a stroke in 1965, the sons took over.
(Tim Elliott, January 23, 2010, SMH)
John and his brother, George ran the show for more than 40 years before George passed away. John continued the family tradition alone of presenting weekly shows, but the time has come for him to pull up stumps.
The Cann family contribution to public education about reptiles is epic. Week in and week out for many decades they have quietly gone about their business of providing public shows. He and his family have educated and inspired generations of Australians. For that we are extremely grateful. John will hand the show over to the Hawkesbury Herpetological Society, but this weekend is the last opportunity to see him give his show.
John is looking forward to having the time to travel with his wife and to pursue his interest in freshwater turtles. He wants to "go camping, get out and about, There's still lots to see out there." We wish him all the best!
References: the above combines extracts from articles by Tim Elliott, January 23, 2010, Sydney Morning Herald and Briget Cormack, Southern Courier, 1/4/10
