Ashmont Public School’s memorial mural of one of its most beloved figures, Aunty Louise Niki, has been vandalised with white paint. Photo: Shri Gayathirie Rajen.
A memorial mural dedicated to the beloved Ashmont community figure Aunty Louise Niki has been vandalised, leaving locals saddened and outraged.
The mural was defaced on Wednesday night (12 March), with white paint splashed across Aunty Louise’s face.
A former Aboriginal education officer at Ashmont Public School, Aunty Louise’s dedication was immortalised in the mural painted on the clubrooms at Jack Misson Oval.
Wiradjuri elder and close friend Aunty Cheryl Penrith expressed disbelief that anyone would damage the mural of a woman who had been a pillar of support for local students.
“I’m disgusted and deeply disappointed,” Aunty Cheryl said.
“Louise was a friend of mine, and it’s heartbreaking that someone would think it’s OK to do this to a woman who gave her heart and soul to the Ashmont community.
“You know, she had been at Ashmont School for years and had seen generations of kids grow up and pass through.
“If you walked past, it really brightened up that area. So to see that acknowledgment and the way they honoured Louise treated like this — it’s truly disgusting.”
The mural is located at Jack Misson Oval, Ashmont. Photo: Wagga Wagga City Council.
Aunty Cheryl said perhaps people didn’t realise “just how significant she was to our community here in Ashmont”.
“They need to take a hard look at themselves, and I hope they feel remorse for what they’ve done.
“I have been thinking about how we can ensure that things like this don’t happen again,” she said.
A spokesperson from Ashmont Public School said the school was extremely disappointed by the damage to the mural.
“The mural has brought joy to the students, staff, and the wider local community, and we welcome its repair,” the spokesperson said.
Wagga Wagga City Council said it didn’t underestimate the impact of this vandalism on Aunty Louise Niki’s family and the Ashmont community.
“Council staff worked closely with the family of Aunty Louise Niki, Ashmont Public School students, and artists to design and install this beautiful mural in September 2024 at Jack Misson Oval in Ashmont,” a council spokesperson said.
“Staff are working with contractors to remove the paint that has vandalised the mural and undertake the required repair.
“All murals commissioned by council are treated with an anti-graffiti coating to assist with the removal of vandalism attacks.
“Council has reported this incident and is unaware of who is responsible for this act of vandalism.”
The mural was painted by Ashmont Public School students in collaboration with artists Amanda Newman and Natalie L Simmons as part of Wagga Wagga City Council’s (WWCC) Public Art Plan.
Aunty Louise passed away in 2019, and the mural was created in her honour to celebrate her contributions to Ashmont Public School and the community. She served at the school for more than 20 years and is remembered as a popular and significant figure, with many students and staff remembering her fondly.
Region contacted NSW Police and was told the matter had yet to be formally reported to the Riverina Police District.
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