MPs say removed Foot-a-scray Park sign should have been kept

It may be only one letter, but the tearing down of a cheeky addition to Footscray Park’s sign – placed as an ode to local celebrity Franco Cozzo – has been met with dismay, with local MPs saying it should have stayed.

A cheeky extra letter added to the Footscray Park sign to celebrate Franco Cozzo has been torn down. Picture: Jake Nowakowski

A special addition to the Footscray Park sign has already been torn down by Maribyrnong Council.

But local MP’s say the extra letter should have been given a longer life.

A cheeky Franco Cozzo fan slapped a handpainted A in the middle of the sign last week to spell out Foot-a-scray – a notorious pronunciation from the celebrity furniture salesman.

The Foot-a-scray Park sign before it was removed.

The extra letter, made out of wood and tied with cable ties, didn’t last longer than a few days before it was pulled down.

Maribyrnong planning services director Nigel Higgins said the council had received a number of complaints about the addition to the sign.

“While we certainly appreciate the humour, and understand the sentiments expressed, it was defacing the entry to the park and a number of residents found it offensive,” Mr Higgins said.

“We have therefore removed the addition to the sign.”

The “A” was tied on with cable ties to the existing sign.

But Western Metropolitan Region Upper House MP Catherine Cumming, who was also a former Maribyrnong councillor for 20 years, said she was a fan of the addition.

“I grew up watching the Franco Cozzo ads on TV and it was always and still is a wonderful ad that I can recite, we all can do it,” she said.

“We’ve obviously got a wonderful community with a great sense of humour and a lot of creative people, we love to poke fun at ourselves.”

The former councillor said the next step would be to tack a Z onto the sign.

“Being a Footscray girl I’m waiting for the Z to come out because apart from it being Foot-A-Scray, it’s Foots-crazy!”

Cozzo is famous for his loved catchphrase in his TV ads.

She said the council had a great sense of humour and expected they would have kept it up.

“As long as it’s functional and it’s not hurting anyone,” Ms Cumming said.

Footscray state Labor MP Katie Hall said she thought the sign should have stayed.

“This makes me smile every time I go past. It’s funny,” she said.

“I love the Footscray Park sign and I think the additional “A” should stay for a while at least,” she said.

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Franco Cozzo rose to fame after he immigrated to Australia from Sicily in 1956 and started up his renowned furniture empire.

With stores in Footscray and Brunswick, Cozzo has become renowned for his beloved TV ads including his famous catchphrase grand sale.

A documentary detailing his impressive life, called Palazzo di Cozzo, was announced in December.

The Leader has reached out to Mr Cozzo for comment.