Stolen backdrop leaves bitter taste

A charitable organisation will struggle to replace its $1700 vinyl stage backdrop, which was stolen from Cornwall Park over the weekend.

Creative Hastings purchased the black backdrop with "Summer in the Park" printed on it, about five years ago.

But after a tough time financially, they were not in a position to fork out the money needed to buy another one.

"The nuisance is we are a charitable institution, we have come through a tough year [and] there's not a lot of room for something like that," creative Hastings event manager Richard Nicholson said.

"We would have to look into replacing it, but if it was returned that would take a lot of pressure off us.

"In terms of value, to replace it there's the vinyl but the expensive part is sign writing."

Measuring about 7.2m by 1.8m, Mr Nicholson believed the backdrop could have been rolled up or folded and carried off the premises by only one person.

The sign was on loan to organisers of International Cultures Day as part of a stage set-up for their celebrations when it was taken between 6pm Saturday and 9am Sunday.

"The thing that riled us it that we were doing a favour."

Theft was not the only damper on this year's Cultures Day, with Hastings councillors forced to spend hours standing guard over a Chinese lantern light feature set up inside the Osmanthus Garden, after groups of young kids made numerous attempts to destroy them.


Anyone with information can call Mr Nicholson on: 06) 878 4643