ACT Policing is appealing for public assistance to identify a man accused of damaging a marble sculpture at the Australian War Memorial in Canberra. The incident occurred on Thursday, October 23, at approximately 12:20 pm.
The sculpture, titled 'For Every Drop in Anguish', consists of 18 stone droplets, some weighing up to 3000 kilograms. One of the pieces was vandalised with a sharp instrument, according to police.
The alleged offender is described as Caucasian, with a large build and shoulder-length brown hair. He was wearing a blue T-shirt and long brown pants at the time of the incident.
The artwork, created by sculptor Alex Seton, was unveiled in February 2024. It represents the blood, sweat, and tears shed by those affected by service and their families. Senior art curator Dr Althea Gunn said the piece captures the complexities of suffering and provides a focus for families, offering a different way to recognise the true cost of service.
This is the first reported vandalism at the Australian War Memorial this year, following at least four incidents in 2024. Previous acts of vandalism included pro-Palestine protesters defacing walls and spray-painting several war memorials between March and August last year.
