Blues festival banners taken
Two banners advertising the upcoming Patonga Blues Across the Bay festival have been taken from Woy Woy and Koolewong train stations.
And this time, it is not by Gosford Council officers.
According to event organiser Ms Jill Tweedie, this is not the first time the signs have been stolen.
"Once again we have had banners stolen advertising our annual Blues Across the Bay festival," Ms Tweedie said.
"We have had our signs removed in the past - once by persons unknown who later returned them and a couple of times by Gosford Council officers who claimed that our signs were displayed unlawfully.
"However, this year (and last year), we have permission from Railcorp to display our banners on rail property fences provided they are not placed in a potentially hazardous situation so we were confident that the banners would stay.
"No such luck!"
Ms Tweedie said the festival committee would be forced to pay hundreds of dollars to have the signs remade.
"Ironically, this year for the first time ever, we have been able to book a couple of Gosford council's banner stands to display our banners," Ms Tweedie said.
"This requires applications being submitted 12 months in advance as demand is so great for this precious advertising space so we were very pleased to secure one at Gosford from October 26 to November 9, and one at Rogers Park in Woy Woy from October 19 to November 2.
"What a shame we have had to purchase more banners to display.
"Patonga Sports and Community Club Inc is a non-profit organisation and we work hard to bring this great event to the Peninsula each year.
"We appeal to whoever has stolen our banners to return them (no questions asked) by phoning our ticket number on 0417 671 261 and we will arrange to collect them."
Press release, 28 Oct 2009
Jill Tweedie, Patonga Blues Across the Bay