Griffith City Council wishes to clarify that there are no plans to remove the Fairey Firefly aircraft memorial located at the corner of Banna Avenue and Jondaryan Avenue.
Griffith Mayor, Councillor Doug Curran, said recent social media claims suggesting Council intends to remove the aircraft are completely inaccurate and misrepresent discussions that took place during a Council workshop this week.
“The reality is that our much-loved ‘plane on a stick’ is deteriorating after decades of exposure to the elements and significant investment will be required to restore it to its former condition,” Councillor Curran said.
“Councillors were discussing options to preserve and protect the aircraft for future generations. At no point was there discussion about removing the memorial permanently. In fact, all present on the evening were fully supportive of repair and restoration of the Firefly.
“It is disappointing that a partial account of the discussion has been leaked from the workshop to a social media page that does not have Griffith’s best interests at heart. This page then goes on to share the misinformation online in a way that creates unnecessary alarm and confusion within the community. It is even more disappointing when people are encouraged to react to sensational claims before checking the facts.
“Some social media pages appear more focused on generating outrage and division than providing accurate information. Unfortunately, this type of clickbait content can quickly fuel hate towards individuals, of which we have seen the ugly outcomes only recently. It also spreads misinformation and distracts from the genuine issue at hand: how best to preserve an important piece of Griffith’s history.”
Council recognises the historical significance of the Fairey Firefly and its importance as a memorial honouring local service personnel.
“To be clear, discussions about repairs, restoration and ongoing maintenance of the aircraft should not be interpreted as discussions about removing it. Claims suggesting otherwise do not accurately reflect what was discussed, Councillor Curran said.
“To enable any restoration work to be completed, the memorial will need to be temporarily removed. It will be reinstated once the works are finished. Council remains committed to preserving this important memorial and any future conservation needs.”
