Vandals attach fake penis to Frankston’s giant gnome sculpture
A GIANT chrome gnome alongside a motorway in Melbourne’s south copped a crude addition this week when pranksters attached a fake penis. CONTAINS “NUDITY”
South East
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FRANKSTON’S giant chrome gnome copped a crude addition this week when pranksters attached a fake penis to the 9m sculpture.
The foil appendage, complete with fake testicles, was added to the gnome, some time on Tuesday night, in a crass display of vandalism.
Leader reader Tom Van Agtmaal snapped a photograph of the gnome with its after market extension on Wednesday morning and said he couldn’t help but laugh.
“I p---ed myself laughing (when I saw it),” Mr Van Agtmaal said.
“Especially when I drove around the front and saw it had balls attached.
“It was taken yesterday morning at about 7.30am.
“I’m on the road every day dealing with terrible drivers so it was a nice change to have a good chuckle.”
RELATED: Frankstonites warm to giant chrome gnome
He posted the picture on Facebook, attracting almost 1000 shares.
“I always thought videos of my little boy Chase and our dog Pip might go viral, but not this.
“And I might now consider a new chrome hood ornament for my truck, to replace the chrome duck.”
When Leader inspected the gnome, which is on land on Cranbourne Rd, near the Peninsula Link off ramp at Langwarrin, on Thursday, the appendage had been removed.
Leader has been told the appendage was made out of aluminium foil and attached with glad wrap wrapped around the statue.
It comes in the wake of locals building “gnome armies” at the foot of the 9m statue.
Many of those were smashed up and have been periodically removed by Peninsula Link operators Southern Way.
“Any vandalism on the freeway is quickly identified and rectified by our ground crew,” a Southern Way spokesperson said.
“Safety is our number one priority and individuals who cross fence boundaries could endanger themselves and other road users.”
The gnome has polarised the southeast and peninsula community, with readers divided in their opinions on the sculpture.
RELATED:Frankston’s chrome gnome gets tribute of the garden variety
Judi Wade took to Facebook to call it the “most ugly, repulsive, repellent, unsightly, revolting, gruesome, grotesque, monstrous, ghastly thing I’ve seen”. That’s a whole lot of adjectives.
But Ebeth McKenzie said while she didn’t want the gnome to start with, “when I saw the response from some locals placing ornamental garden gnomes around its feet, I started to change my mind and thought that was a cute move.”
“C’mon, let’s have a little bit of fun with our gnome.”
RELATED:Gnome sculpture stands proud over Peninsula Link, but readers divided
Meanwhile, ever since the Reflective Lullaby gnome sculpture was erected, drivers have complained about glare from the sun, coming off the chrome surface, concerned that it could cause an accident.
Judith Guzys-Mcauliffe wrote on Facebook “when the sun comes out, I believe that it will dazzle drivers and be a hazard.”
Ami Stockton agreed: “the glare in summer will be terrible.”
With a couple of days of spring sun and summer on the way, Leader asked VicRoads and Southern Way if the concerns are genuine.
VicRoads’ director of commercial roads Peter Holcombe-Henley said “the placement of the sculpture along Peninsula Link was carefully considered in the original design of the freeway.”
“VicRoads is in regular contact with Southern Way to monitor the issue and will continue to assess safety issues in consultation with them,” Mr Holcombe-Henley said.
A Southern Way spokeswoman said “sun reflection was not deemed to be a safety issue”.
“We are listening to the concerns of the community and we are monitoring the site to ensure there is no risk to public safety.”
*People with concerns can phone Southern Way on 1300 453 035.