A statue of Captain James Cook in Sydney's Randwick suburb was vandalized with red paint for the second consecutive year. The incident has sparked debate about the appropriateness of the statue and the ongoing legacy of colonization in Australia.
A statue of Captain James Cook in Sydney's Randwick suburb was vandalized with red paint before the Australia Day long weekend. This marks the second consecutive year the statue has been damaged. New South Wales police are investigating the incident after the sandstone statue of the explorer and naval captain was discovered vandalized on Friday morning. Captain James Cook landed in Botany Bay in 1770, claiming the east coast of Australia for Britain.
He later returned to Sydney Cove in 1788 to establish the colony of New South Wales after the arrival of the First Fleet. However, for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, Australia Day, observed on January 26th, represents a day of mourning. This date commemorates the arrival of the First Fleet and the beginning of colonization, a period marked by displacement, dispossession, and cultural trauma.The statue, located on the corner of Belmore Road and Avoca Street in Randwick, had previously been restored after a similar attack in February 2024. Randwick Mayor Dylan Parker, a member of the Labor Party, condemned the act of vandalism, stating that it does a disservice to the reconciliation process. He emphasized that vandalism is an illegal act that hinders progress towards a more inclusive society. Council staff are currently working to clean and restore the damaged statue.However, the incident has sparked debate about the appropriateness of the statue itself. Dr. Carolyn Martin, a Liberal councillor in Randwick, expressed frustration that council ratepayers would bear the cost of repairs. Philipa Veitch, a Greens councillor, argued that the statue serves as a painful reminder of colonization's lasting impacts and suggested its relocation to a museum. She advocated for the creation of a new, more inclusive artwork by local artists. Police from the Eastern Beaches Police Area Command responded to reports of vandalism and secured the scene for forensic examination. They seized several items and are appealing to the public for any information, CCTV footage, or dashcam recordings that might assist in identifying the perpetrators.
Australia Day Captain Cook Vandalism Colonization Reconciliation
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