NEW Lambton South Public School's technicolour giraffe was impossible to miss, standing at almost two metres as the centrepiece of its menagerie of animals and painted purple, green and blue.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Principal Andrew Pryce said its apparent kidnapping, the second from New Lambton South in three years, had left staff and students "pretty upset".
"A lot of kids are coming up and saying 'They've stolen our giraffe - why would they steal our giraffe?'" he said.
"These are just little kids playing in the playground. Just give it back."
Mr Pryce said one of his staff members sent him a photo taken through the fence on Saturday June 15 showing the bottom of the giraffe's purple front right leg and yellow hoof in the ground - and the rest of its body missing.
He reported the theft to Newcastle City Police District.
"The leg had been bolted down and had 40 kilograms of quick set [cement] holding it in place - they've cut it with a hacksaw mid-shin," he said.
"It was probably some students boozed up, but you can't do anything with it.
"If it was returned, that would be lovely. Just pop him back over our fence and we'd be happy."
Mr Pryce said the giraffe was worth between $700 and $1000 and had been at the school for about six months.
Artist and school parent Ann Snell painted it with students to look "playful".
"Anything being stolen from a school is a really low act," she said.
"It's very disappointing - it was something of joy that the school had invested in."
The giraffe stood near a rhinoceros that was decorated as part of a Taronga Zoo project in support of rhino conservation, a cow painted like a tiger and a gorilla painted like a yellow chested blue macaw.
"We call it a zoo, it's a big menagerie in there," Mr Pryce said.
"They're very cool and brighten up our days. But our poor giraffe, we just can't seem to keep him."
The school's missing giraffe was a replacement for its fluro-green fibreglass predecessor Gertrude, which was stolen in January 2016 after watching over the school for a year.
Former relieving principal Sandy Notley said at the time Gertrude had pins in her hooves that were set in concrete, but it appeared her back legs had been lifted out of the ground and her front legs had been cut off close to the ground.
"My first thought was 'How could someone get that giraffe out of the school grounds?' And then: 'Why would they?'" Mrs Notley told the Newcastle Herald.
Mr Pryce's plan for the front garden near the corner of St James Road and Fairfield Avenue includes the addition of an almost-life-sized baby elephant and other animals hidden in bushes.
"We've got GPS trackers coming [for the animals]. When they hit wifi they will ping a signal."
Crime Stoppers: 1800 333 000.
Helen Gregory
Helen Gregory joined the Newcastle Herald in 2010. She is the masthead’s education reporter and has written for the H2 and Weekender sections, as well as across a range of issues. Helen is a Walkley Award winning journalist and was also part of the Newcastle Herald team that won the United Nations World Environment Day Media Award for Environmental Reporting.
Helen Gregory joined the Newcastle Herald in 2010. She is the masthead’s education reporter and has written for the H2 and Weekender sections, as well as across a range of issues. Helen is a Walkley Award winning journalist and was also part of the Newcastle Herald team that won the United Nations World Environment Day Media Award for Environmental Reporting.
