It’s official: NT Chief Minister Michael Gunner loves nachos

KATHERINE town councillor Toni Tapp Coutts wants the Gunner Government to pay for the town’s “iconic” ‘Jesus Loves Nachos” graffiti to be touched up

Jesus Loves Nachos graffiti in Katherine. PIC CREDIT: Toni Tapp Coutts

KATHERINE town councillor Toni Tapp Coutts wants the Gunner Government to pay for the town’s “iconic” “Jesus Loves Nachos” graffiti to be touched up.

Ms Coutts, who paid to trademark the sign at the end of last year, fears it may fade away completely without intervention from the NT Government.

“It’s very, very faded – always unreadable,” she said.

“If so much can be spent on the CBD revitalisation in Darwin, surely just a little bit can be done to revitalise a little bit of Katherine.

“One would assume it wouldn’t be that much, surely,” Ms Coutts said.

The graffiti first appeared on the side of a railway bridge in Katherine in the 1980s and read “Jesus Loves You”.

About 10 years later, a nacho enthusiast slipped down and painted “nachos” over “you”. Since then, very little has been done to it.

“It’s pretty iconic, very quirky, Territory humour,” Ms Coutts said.

“It just seems like it’s been there forever – I’d just like to see it revamped exactly as it is.

“It’s different to anything else in the world.

“I think most people love it. When they get visitors from down south they always tell the story of the sign.”

Even Chief Minister Micheal Gunner voiced his support for the Mexican dish.

“Jesus loves nachos, and so do I,” he said.

“I would support renewing the graffiti, as long as it is supported by the Katherine community and does not lose its original flavour.”

Katherine Mayor Fay Miller isn’t a fan of the words, and said Ms Coutts had a financial interest in keeping the symbol prominent.

“The Katherine Town Council itself don’t support it,” she said.

“We support the upgrading of the railway bridge as a heritage bridge – and would support it being repainted in the heritage colours.”

The NT News understands that because of the trademark on the words, it may be difficult to tamper with the design – even if it was to improve its appearance.