The eye-catching structure will be pieced together over three days next week before taking up a five-month residence in Rosalind Park.

While the merits of American Seward Johnson’s sculpture as a piece of art are debatable, there is no doubt it will be a conversation starter.

It is, literally, unmissable and the Bendigo Art Gallery will be hoping it proves the perfect advertisement for its upcoming Marilyn Monroe exhibition.

The selfie opportunities the giant sculpture – rumoured to be visible from the moon on clear days – presents are endless.

People will come from near and far to be pictured beneath the billowing dress of the late, great Hollywood icon.

Quite aside from the exhibition it will so effectively promote, the piece will be a drawcard for tourists in its own right.

But, unfortunately, so too are there endless opportunities for vandals to strike.

It is a sorry reflection of the times that immediately upon The Addy’s posting of an artist’s impression of the sculpture that discussion turned to the chances of it emerging unscathed during its tenure in the park.

It is fair to say the general consensus was slim. Very, very slim.

Perhaps that was an unfair knee-jerk reaction borne out of social media users’ apparent desire to think the worst of people at all times.

Or perhaps it was simply that locals are so used to seeing nice things around the city destroyed and defaced in senseless acts of vandalism.

Only a few short weeks ago members a Bendigo biker group took it upon themselves to stand guard over the city’s Christmas tree to protect it from vandals.

There will be no bearded guardian angels this time, however.

And neither should there be.

This time it is up to the wider community to protect something that – like it or loathe it – will undoubtedly deliver economic, cultural and social benefits.

CCTV will have its role to play as a deterrent, but it is time for parents to teach their children about the impacts of wanton property damage. The next five months will be a test of this city’s character.

- Ross Tyson, deputy editor