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Molly Meldrum statue vandalised for second time after diggers attack bronzed music guru By Ali Daher For Daily Mail Australia Published: 10:38, 3 November 2024 | Updated: 10:45, 3 November 2024 e-mail 26 shares View comments A statue immortalising Australian music industry icon Ian ‘Molly’ Meldrum has been vandalised for a second time. The statue of the 81-year-old Countdown host was created by artist Louis Lauman and stands in Wangaratta Street Park in Richmond, Victoria. He's depicted in his famous Stetson hat and an Egyptian themed T-shirt offering a thumbs up with one hand, while he carries his beloved dog Ziggy in the other.
Last month the larger-than-life effigy was a victim of foul play when hooligans attempted to dig up the bronzed guru. While it's unclear whether they attempted to steal the sculpture, or topple it, the unauthorised digging left significant damage to the local monument. The City of Yarra Council have since removed the statue for repair.
It's not the first time the tribute to Molly has come under attack. In 2023, Molly's statue was defaced with red paint and graffiti. A statue immortalising Australian music industry icon Ian ‘Molly’ Meldrum (pictured) has been vandalised for a second time Last month the larger-than-life effigy was a victim of foul play when hooligans attempted to dig up the bronzed guru.
Pictured The vandals left the likeness crying tears of blood, his leg and coat were tagged, even Molly's dog wasn't sparred. The pampered pooch's body was coloured red. The news comes as Molly continues to struggle with poor health.
Read More Where's Molly Meldrum? TV legend sets tongues wagging after the Hey Hey It's Saturday star fails to appear at friend John Blackman's funeral Meldrum looked frail in several recent images shared by his boyfriend, Thai businessman Yan Wongngam. They stand in stark contrast with his more energetic appearance at the Australian Open in January. In one photograph shared to social media, the bald television legend seems to be sleeping on a couch in the couple's Melbourne home, without one of his trademark hats and with his mouth open.
In another picture Meldrum appears bearded and lying on the verandah with one slender hand over his chest for what appears to be a daytime snooze. Meldrum has been 'struggling' with his health and has largely withdrawn from public life, a close source revealed November will mark 50 years since Countdown, the long-running ABC music show that shot Meldrum to stardom, debuted on Aussie TV screens. Meldrum, who has been in headlines for the wrong reasons in recent years, was a notable no-show at a Royal Australian Mint event in Melbourne last Wednesday to launch a commemorative Countdown coin.
The show's announcer Gavin Wood revealed his longtime mate had struggled with his health ever since falling off a ladder in December 2011 almost killed him. It's not the first time the tribute to Molly has come under attack. In 2023, Molly's statue was defaced with red paint and graffiti.
Pictured Worrying photographs of Australian music icon Molly Meldrum have emerged as the 81-year-old continues to struggle with his health. Meldrum is pictured with boyfriend Yan Wongngam In one photograph the bald television legend seems to be sleeping on a couch in his Melbourne home, without one of his trademark hats and with his mouth open 'The fall, it is all down to the fall, was a horrible thing to have happened,' Wood told the Herald Sun . 'He is 82 in January.
He has been a public figure all his life and I think he is just enjoying a quieter life. 'He is still Molly, still interested in music and still has it turned up to 11. He is still naughty, he has still got that spark that we love, but I think he is enjoying life being a normal person.
' Although Meldrum did not attend the coin launch, he did release a statement and sneaked in his famous catchphrase whenever he recommended an artist on the program. 'Do yourself a favour and get one,' he said. 'Iconic Countdown lives on.
'I am left with such fond memories of those days and a show that will never be forgotten. 'We made a difference to the music industry in Australia and so I am thrilled to see commemorative coin being made.' Wood said his former colleague would be 'chuffed' to see something 'as beautiful and as imaginative' as the coins commemorating the show that made him a household name.
In another picture Meldrum is bearded and lying on a cushioned behind on the verandah with one slender hand over his chest for what appears to be a daytime snooze Meldrum looks frail as he poses for an image with his boyfriend Molly Meldrum Melbourne Share or comment on this article: Molly Meldrum statue vandalised for second time after diggers attack bronzed music guru e-mail 26 shares Add comment.
