Vandals have damaged a historic statue of a World War I soldier in Ipswich, just weeks after Anzac Day.
Ipswich City Council workers discovered the 1918 Ebbw Vale War Memorial statue with a decapitated head, arm and rifle at around 7:30am on May 8.
Queensland Police were notified soon after and investigations are continuing.
Ipswich Mayor Teresa Harding has condemned the attack, describing it as deeply distressing for veterans, their families and the wider community.
“Ipswich is a proud garrison city with a deep and special relationship with defence, and this act of vandalism is completely unacceptable.”
Mayor Harding said council was working to restore the memorial and had engaged Monumental Masons to assess repair options, with the cost of the damage still under investigation.
Police are appealing for anyone with information, CCTV or dashcam footage from the area to come forward.
The Ipswich City Council has since confirmed it’s preparing a motion to allow a reward to be offered for information leading to an arrest.
