Surveillance cameras will be fitted to monitor the Marilyn Monroe sculpture in Rosalind Park amid fears vandals will target the plus-sized artwork.
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Councillor Rod Fyffe told the Bendigo Advertiser the city needed to take particular care to safeguard the statue because it was on loan from its American owner, The Seward Johnson Atelier.
“We certainly will have cameras fitted so we can fulfill any security requirements,” he said.
He also encouraged the community to watch over the sculpture, like bikers did for Bendigo's Christmas tree when it was vandalised in December.
"The community will certainly take ownership of it. Just like the Christmas tree, I think we'll find people will be protective of it," Cr Fyffe said.
But Tom McCarthy, who was part of the Biker Charity Support Group effort to safeguard the Christmas tree late last year, told readers of the Bendigo Advertiser’s Facebook page his group would not afford Marilyn the same treatment.
“We have a lot on our plates at the moment with our other programs,” Mr McCarthy said.
“The council knew this event was coming months ago so we/I feel that they have to provide the security for their events.
“It’s not up to locals to safeguard items or events, it’s the job of the said council.”
Concern for the safety of Forever Marilyn was almost universal among online readers.
California Gully resident Luke Hodges told Facebook he expected the statue would be targeted within a week of its installation, citing extensive damage caused to the Cooinda Park slide and Christmas decorations as evidence of the city’s vandalism problem.
“Let's just wait and see how much it costs the public to repair Marilyn when she inevitably gets trashed!” he said.
The community will certainly take ownership of it. Just like the Christmas tree, I think we'll find people will be protective of it.
- Mayor Rod Fyffe
But Cr Fyffe said he was disappointed in people who expected the sculpture to be damaged, saying vandalism was “not particularly big” in Bendigo.
Bendigo Art Gallery collections manager Sandra Bruce said the sculpture would be illuminated at night after a study found a 90 per cent drop in vandalism to public art when it was well-lit.
Installation of the eight-metre tall, 15-tonne sculpture begins on Monday.