A young woman has been formally accused of criminal damage after she was caught on CCTV defacing a prominent public sculpture by attaching large, plastic googly eyes to the artwork.
The Incident and Immediate Aftermath
According to local news reports, 19-year-old Amelia Vanderhorst was responsible for placing the adhesive eyes on the 'Cast in Blue' sculpture in the city of Mount Gambier. The incident, which took place earlier this year, was captured by security cameras. The subsequent removal of the stickers damaged the paintwork, leaving the local council with an estimated repair bill of A$2,500 (approximately £1,300).
Official Condemnation and Legal Proceedings
Mount Gambier Mayor, Lynette Martin, did not mince words when addressing the act in September. She stated that the stickers were not a case of 'harmless fun' but constituted 'wilful damage'. Mayor Martin emphasised that the council would be pursuing costs from those responsible, calling the act 'inappropriate and disrespectful' to a community that had embraced the sculpture.
Ms Vanderhorst appeared at Mount Gambier Magistrates Court by phone, where she informed the court that she was ill and 'really high on pain meds' at the time of the incident. She did not enter a plea. The prosecution accused her of showing 'reckless indifference' to the damage caused. The magistrate advised her to secure legal representation before her next hearing, scheduled for December.
The Sculpture's Troubled History
The artwork, affectionately known locally as 'Blue Bob', is a significant piece valued at A$136,000 (approximately £68,000). It was designed as a mythical representation of unique megafauna, inspired by an ancient marsupial found in caves in south-east Australia. Its distinctive blue colour is meant to reflect the city's famous Blue Lake.
However, 'Blue Bob' has had a contentious history since its installation. Its unconventional design and substantial price tag, set against a backdrop of rising council rates, initially drew a mixed reception from the public. This was not its first act of vandalism; just two weeks after it was erected in July, chunks of paint were cut from it. No charges were ever pursued for that initial incident, despite a police review of CCTV footage.
