In 2013: Student artwork removed after residents complain

IT was with a sense of irony that Castlemaine Secondary College student Callum Walsh heard of the outrage expressed at an anti-Tony Abbott poster on the streets of town, placed there by one of his classmates.

Callum’s street art, titled “Man Offended”, sat alongside the disputed “Abbott Proof Fence” poster on Mechanics Lane and told of a man so offended by some artwork that he suffered a very public episode.

The work proved to be prophetic.

Last week, an online group called “STOP the anti-Abbottism” launched a petition calling for a public apology from the school and the Mount Alexander Shire Council for allowing the anti-Abbott poster to be displayed in a public place.

They described the poster as both “disgusting” and “disrespectful”.

Castlemaine Secondary College’s Street Art class placed the installation in the lane at the Castlemaine State Festival.

Callum said the claim of bias leveled at the school’s teachers was unfounded.

“It’s bizarre that people would think we’re being influenced by anyone. I’ve been at CSC since Year 7 and it’s really strange to hear someone thinking that we can’t think for ourselves,” he said.

“There’s no bias. People have personal opinions.”

The school runs a Street Art class for Year 10 students, where they research the evolution of the art form, its impact on society and the styles used.

Callum said students were free to discuss any political views and transform them into art, if they choose.

“I’m apolitical and I try to distance myself from the politics,” he said.

“The class taught me a lot about the impact of street art in the modern age. It taught us that everyone’s opinions are valid and appreciated.”

The petition demanding an apology had generated about 200 signatures since it was launched last week.

It was not the first time the class had encountered public controversy.

In 2013, a billboard-style artwork stating “Christmas is a lie” was removed after complaints from residents, with one Castlemaine resident telling the Bendigo Advertiser they had seen an elderly gentleman “shaking with anger” while looking at the artwork.

Castlemaine Secondary College principal Mary McPherson said the school was unlikely to offer an apology for the anti-Tony Abbott artwork.

“We want our students to be critical thinkers, to share their opinions and to values other’s opinions,” she said.

“It’s really important to allow students to express their views.”

A counter-petition supporting the students had more than 600 supporters.

Ms McPherson said the Abbott Proof Fence poster had combined a number of elements to make its point.

“Refugees is a topic that students are usually very interested in. They have also been studying the film Rabbit Proof Fence, so that could be where the idea came from,” she said.