The large portrait of Australia's feisty first Catholic saint, Mary MacKillop , in Townsville , North Queensland , continues to fade without anybody in authority taking remedial action . She has been fading in the tropical heat until now it is hard to see any facial features . Also dimming are the Southern Cross stars and the large caption proudly declaring her OUR AUSTRALIAN SAINT . This blog drew attention to this situation months ago pointing out the local media had failed to pick up this obvious important local story.
How the hell this situation has continued for so long without somebody springing into action to rectify the fade out overlooking one of the city's busy roads is hard to understand. But then blessed Townsville has a long record of neglecting important war memorials and broken major community clocks like those on the travel centre and the old post office. Forgetting to take down old advertising signs for long gone entertainment is another sin of which the (Protestant ) Queen City of the North is guilty.The Vatican may have to fly in Michelangelo to work his magic on the portrait , if he is not doing a makeover on the Sistine Chapel ceiling for The Block series on television .
