Russell Sheridan’s Eurybia statue a victim of structural damage not vandalism: Shire of Augusta-Margaret River

Structural weakness rather than vandalism has been blamed for the collapse of Surfers Point’s popular Eurybia sculpture. Confronting images of the fallen statue flooded social media sites earlier this week, triggering a rash of calls for the perpetrators to be punished. But Shire of Augusta-Margaret River sustainable development and infrastructure chief Nick Logan told the Times the Russell Sheridan-crafted piece, known colloquially as “Skater Chick”, had “fallen as a result of compromised structural support”. “The shire arranged for its removal and is liaising with the artist to determine whether it’s viable to repair it,” the director said. “It has been a much-loved feature of Surfers Point and we hope it can be safety resurrected.” Residents voiced scepticism online that the stark damage was caused without human intervention. The artwork was first installed in 2013, along with other pieces adorning the coast.