Woman given community service for putting googly eyes on £70k sculpture

26 Mar 2026 • 5:07 PM MYT
The Independent
The Independent

The world’s most free-thinking newspaper

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  • A 20-year-old woman, Amelia Vanderhorst, was convicted of a graffiti offence in South Australia for attaching googly eyes to a public sculpture.
  • The artwork, named 'Cast in Blue' and valued at A$136,000 (£70,721), is located in Mount Gambier and depicts mythical megafauna, though it has divided local opinion and is popularly known as the 'Blue Blob'.
  • Vanderhorst pleaded guilty to 'marking graffiti' after filming herself attaching the eyes in September 2025, later expressing remorse for her actions.
  • Magistrate Kylie Schulz ordered Vanderhorst to pay A$2,000 (£1,040) in compensation to the city council and complete 60 hours of community service.
  • The city council spent A$3,000 on repairs, as the adhesive used could not be removed without damaging the sculpture.

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