From the Manly Daily July 11 2007...
Lisa Capozzi
A SYMBOL of love and harmony will remain the ``heart of Queenscliff'' despite residents labelling it nothing more than offensive graffiti and calling on its removal after 21 years.
The bright pink love heart has marked a Queenscliff headland since 1986 when it was painted on in support of local surfers.
Resident Tony Burns has asked Warringah Council to remove the ``offensive'' graffiti, claiming it spoils the area's natural heritage and should go, along with any other graffiti defacing the headland.
However, the council has told Dr Burns that the heart will not be removed due to its historic and sentimental connection to local surfers.
The heart has QBC - Queenscliff Boardriders Club - written next to it and is maintained by the club on an annual basis.
A spokesman from the QBC told The Manly Daily the heart was first put up in the mid-1980s to support three local surfers who made it to the finals of surfing event the Coke Classic.
``It's been there for so long, Queenscliff wouldn't be the same without it,'' the spokesman, who did not want to be named, said.
``A lot of people comment about it but I've never heard of anything bad before, I mean it's only a love heart.
``If it was removed it would only be put back up the next day anyway.''
Dr Burns said he asked the council to remove the heart and other ``offensive'' graffiti sprawled across the cliff face in December last year.
Other graffiti was removed in May, despite the council's graffiti policy of a two-week removal period.
Council administrator Dick Persson said the large pink heart had been in that location for many years and was not offensive.
``As this isn't offensive graffiti, has an historic association with a major surf contest of many years ago and your complaint is the first received by council, it's removal has not been recommended by council officers,'' Mr Persson wrote in a letter to Dr Burns.
But Dr Burns still wants it to go.
``By any definition this is still graffiti, no matter who painted it,'' he said.
``It defaces the natural rock face.
``I understand that there are penalties of up to six months' imprisonment for painting graffiti . . . has this been pointed out to the local board riding club?
``There is no justification for this or other graffiti, especially when it despoils our natural heritage.''