Campbelltown’s loved social commentator Pig, from Tim’s Garden Centre, praised in Parliament for good deeds

CAMPBELLTOWN’S very own social commentator, the Pig outside Tim’s Garden Centre, has received high praise in State Parliament for its good deeds to raise awareness.

Tim’s Garden Centre owner Tim Pickles, Campbelltown State Labor MP Greg Warren and Pig pictured outside the Campbelltown business.

• Pig gets people talking about America’s next president Donald Trump
• Kidnapped mascot from Tim’s Garden Centre returned by police
• #SnapSydney captures Macarthur

CAMPBELLTOWN’S very own ceramic social commentator, the Pig outside Tim’s Garden Centre, has received high praise in State Parliament for its good deeds to raise awareness.

Campbelltown State Labor MP Greg Warren has publicly acknowledged Pig’s contribution to the region through a community recognition statement in the House earlier this month.

“I ask the House to acknowledge Campbelltown’s most unlikely social symbol, and commentator, who sits on a milk crate watching over Campbelltown’s changing identity — Pig,’’ Mr Warren said.

“Pig has resided at the main intersection of Campbelltown for five years, in front of Tim’s Garden Centre.

Pig looked stylish during #SnapSydney yesterday.

Pig wore a Donald Trump mask on the day of the American presidential election.

“Twice weekly his community billboard message is updated and uploaded to social media, spreading important information throughout Campbelltown and our region.’’

Mr Warren said Pig and its master, garden centre owner Tim Pickles, had endorsed movements such as White Ribbon Day, RU OK, Dry July and Beyond Blue, among others, through their messages.

In December 2014, Pig was briefly stolen and the community spread the word via social media to find Pig.

Pig was later found and returned home by Campbelltown police.

Campbelltown police return Pig home in 2014.

Pig turned blue to raise funds for Beyondblue.

“The momentary disappearance of Pig had in excess of 60,000 hits on Facebook, 400 shares and 345 comments,’’ Mr Warren said.

“The joy around the community when Pig was returned by the NSW Police Force proves that Pig’s messages of goodwill are invaluable to Campbelltown.’’

Mr Warren said Pig was as much a mascot for Campbelltown as the animal was for Tim’s Garden Centre.

Pig and a friend support RU OK Day.

“I ask the House to join me in acknowledging Pig for bringing community awareness to the agenda and for keeping a smile on the faces of residents of Campbelltown.’’

As reported in last week’s Macarthur Chronicle, Pig also got into the spirit of the American presidential election race and donned a Donald Trump mask on the day.

Mr Pickles said Pig’s mask aimed to start a conversation and the animal was not making a political statement or endorsing president elect Mr Trump.

IN OTHER PIG NEWS

A FAMILY’S pig in Mt Isa is facing an uncertain future after a local council deemed it illegal to be kept as a pet. Owners Jennifer Hewer and John French set up the Save Hambo the Pig Facebook page and Change.org petition to drum up support to save their bacon’s bacon.