By Tom Cowie and Kishor Napier-Raman
Pam the Bird accused Jack Gibson-Burrell is out on bail, and here at CBD we are watching with interest to see if any fresh tags appear across the city bearing Pam’s distinctive style.
While he cools his heels, Gibson-Burrell has a court date to prepare for. Police allege that he is the mastermind behind the citywide graffiti attacks that have appeared on prominent landmarks such as the Flinders Street Station clock, the Uncle Toby’s silos, and Jeff Kennett’s CityLink “cheese stick”.
Jack Gibson-Burrell exits court after being granted bail last month.Credit: Justin McManus
It seems Gibson-Burrell wants to be able to afford quality legal representation, as streetwear company WNDRR is now selling a “free bird” Pam T-shirt branded with the words “Not guilty” to raise money for his defence.
The black T-shirts, which retail for $59.95, are supposedly a collaboration with Gibson-Burrell, according to the online ad copy, with the proceeds helping to cover his legal fees to “ensure his innocence”. If they sell 50, he might be able to afford an hour of a criminal defence barrister’s time.
T-shirts are being sold to raise funds for Pam the Bird accused Jack Gibson-Burrell.
Ah well, every little bit counts. An Instagram account allegedly controlled by Gibson-Burrell, @goodbirdart, posted a link to the tin-rattling effort and added “all support is really appreciated by the accused”.
Speaking of expensive, it turns out it can be quite pricey to remove a Pam, particularly when heritage buildings are involved.
Heritage Victoria has told the owners of the Clifton Hill Shot Tower, which was built circa 1882, to get rid of the Pam that appeared on the side of the red-brick structure a few months ago or be faced with an enforcement order.
The owner, Phil Kapogiannis, told CBD that he had brought in conservationists to work on the project, but they were still trying to figure out how to do it.
Gibson-Burrell is alleged to have used abseiling gear to access some of his Pam locations, such as the top of the 78-metre tower. However, Kapogiannis said doing the same again wasn’t an option because it wasn’t safe.
The cost of removing the Pam could end up being more than six figures, Kapogiannis said.
Pam the Bird graffiti on the side of the Shot Tower in Clifton Hill.Credit: Chris Hopkins
“Any form of graffiti is taken as neglect,” he said. “So it’s all on our head to fix it and do everything else. It’s not an easy job.”
When told that Gibson-Burrell was raising funds for his defence, Kapogiannis joked that it wasn’t a bad idea to pay for his own bill. “Maybe we should do that too,” he said.
A spokesperson for the Department of Planning said Heritage Victoria wrote to the owners of the shot tower in November and January, asking for the graffiti’s removal. They said owners of registered heritage places were required under legislation to maintain their properties.
“A notice to show cause and repair order may be issued to the owner of the property to carry out works to prevent further deterioration of a registered place,” they said.
Blue on blue
Liberals don’t get much bluer than Philip Ruddock, who spent 43 years in federal parliament and was a minister in the Howard government, a former president of the party’s NSW division and, until last year, mayor of Hornsby Shire Council in Sydney’s upper north shore and northern suburbs.
Philip Ruddock’s move has left some Liberals fuming.Credit: James Brickwood
Which is why Ruddock’s latest move has left some Liberals in NSW fuming about a perceived betrayal from one of their own. The former federal minister appeared in a video with wannabe teal Tina Brown, who is challenging Liberal MP Julian Leeser in the seat of Berowra, to have a crack at the local council’s proposed new rules on tree protections.
For a Climate 200-backed candidate trying to make inroads in a blue ribbon seat, it’s about as good an endorsement as you can get. And it’s the latest in a series of deteriorating relationships between Ruddock and local Liberals.
Teal Tina Brown is targeting Berowra.
“I’ve made it very clear that I remain a member of the Liberal Party, not working for Tina Brown or her campaign,” Ruddock said.
Brown, meanwhile, told CBD that she and Ruddock “shared a deep love for the Bushland Shire”.
“I respect that he’s staying with the Liberal Party; it’s his legacy, but the Liberal Party today is a far cry from the one Philip Ruddock dedicated his life to building,” she said.
None of this has satisfied some ropeable local Liberals, who would be plotting to remove Ruddock from the party if not for his decades of service to the cause.
Stars out for sorry Swans
Thanks to the tropical cyclone that wasn’t, the AFL’s PR-led “round zero” was a bit of a flop, with the Queensland games cancelled ahead of time.
Sporty Spice spotted: Melanie Chisholm attended the official AFL event after the Sydney-Hawthorn game.Credit: Conor Clinch
But the two games that went ahead in Sydney had a bit of the celebrity razzle-dazzle you would expect from the harbour city. At the official AFL function on Friday night after the Swans lost to Hawthorn, CBD’s spies spotted British singer Melanie C (better known as Sporty Spice) with her Australian model boyfriend, Chris Dingwall.
And while the NRL might have Las Vegas, the AFL has Brian Austin Green of Beverly Hills 90210 fame, also spotted at the Swans-Hawthorn game.
On Sunday, Sarah Murdoch, wife of News Corp mogulet Lachlan, trekked out to Homebush for the GWS Giants’ season opener with Suzi Carp, wife of new Collingwood president Barry Carp.