Jail murals by killer and rapist to be covered over

By Tim Howard

A series of murals painted on walls in the Grafton jail by notorious sex killer and rapist Lennie Lawson will be covered over when that section of the jail becomes part of the health system.

The NSW Department of Health Infrastructure has deemed the works too “triggering” for health staff, who will move into the section of the jail after renovations.

The decision marks a turn around from the time Corrective Services closed the prison in 2020.

At the time it said the murals painted by Lennie Lawson would be preserved for posterity.

There is nothing controversial in the murals, other than knowing who painted them.

They depict sunset over a mountain, a mountain lion and a marlin leaping from the water while two people fish from a boat.

The NSW Health Infrastructure said it would cover up the artwork as part of the site repurposing.

The murals were painted on brickwork and could not be dismantled or relocated due to the structural integrity of the wall.

The walls featuring the artwork would be retained and approval was granted under Section 60 of the Heritage Act to cover the artwork with internal wall lining.

Clarence River Historical Society president Steve Tranter said the society was against the move as the works were part of the jail’s history.

Mr Tranter said Lennie Lawson had been a fascinating figure at the jail who had done a lot of good, raising money for charity and helping fellow inmates.

“There are many [paintings] out there in the community in Grafton and the benefit he provided to charities is quite considerable,” he said.

But a passage in a book, The Last Governor, by former Grafton Jail governor John Heffernan revealed Lawson was always viewed as a threat.

In a media report he said Lawson remained “a dirty old bastard” until the day he died in 2003.

The report said Mr Heffernan and prison offices uncovered evidence Lawson had used access to a video recording device to splice together graphic images from movies and clips from children’s shows.

“He had created a collection which would later be described by a psychologist as ‘voyeuristic sexual fantasies’ and ‘sexual perversion’,” Mr Heffernan wrote in his book.

Soon after the decision was made to move Lawson to another jail and while he waited for the move he was moved into a cell with another notorious killer Allan Baker, who was serving a life sentence for his part in the 1973 kidnap, rape and murder of Virginia Morse.

Four days into his new arrangement, Lawson was seated on a stool in his cell awaiting breakfast when he toppled off and was likely dead before he hit the floor, the cause, a massive heart attack.

It was the end of a bizarre life which began in Wagga 76 years earlier.

During his early life Lawson found fame and employment as a comic book artist who created the Lone Avenger and Hooded Rider cartoons for Action Comics.

But in 1954, married with three children, he enticed a group of models into bushland at Terrey Hills in Sydney, for a modelling assignment.

Instead he bound the girls, gagged them, raped two and sexually assaulted the others.

He faced trial and was convicted of the rapes and sentenced to hang.

The sentence was later commuted to 14 years jail, but he only served half that time and was on the streets in May 1961,

It was a disastrous move.

In November 1961 he raped and killed 16-year-old Jane Bower and fled the scene to Moss Vale where he stormed the Sydney Church of England Grammar School, taking students hostage in the chapel.

During the siege he shot dead 15-year-old Wendy Sue Luscombe and in April 1962 was sentenced to life imprisonment.

For a decade he seemed a model prisoner, but in 1972 while in Parramatta Jail he attempted to take a young dancer, Sharon Hamilton, who had performed at the jail, hostage at knife point.

Other inmates helped free her, but the attack changed her and in 1978 she committed suicide.

In 1998 Lawson was transferred to Grafton Jail where he continued to follow his passion for painting and was interviewed on 60 Minutes.

He told journalist Liz Hayes he had no idea why he became a violent criminal.

“Something happened up here and I went haywire. I just completely lost the plot,” he told her.

While Lawson continued to be something of a favourite with prison officers who commissioned him to paint murals and provided photos of pets and family members for him to paint, he was largely reviled in the Grafton community.

“His fingerprint on earth should be erased,” wrote one social media user commenting on the merit of his artwork.

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Grafton Artist Respite Program Recipients Announced for 2025

By Robert Heyward

Grafton Regional Gallery and Arts Northern Rivers are delighted to reveal the three recipients of the Grafton Artist Respite Program for 2025. This initiative was designed to support artists from the Northern Rivers region affected by natural disasters, providing them with time and space to focus on their creative pursuits.

2025 Recipients

The successful applicants, all based in Lismore and significantly impacted by recent floods, are:

• Holly Ahern: A contemporary, multifaceted artist whose work explores texture, colour, scale, repetition, and design. Holly’s creations delve into themes of otherness, femininity, and the honest challenges of navigating an overactive mind.
• Kate Stroud: A talented maker and facilitator with expertise in music, typography, and community-driven design. Known for her unique lettering and hand typography, Kate has established a reputation as a sign painter, graphic designer, and muralist.
• Hunter Wilson: An emerging multidisciplinary artist with a strong foundation in graphic design, composition, and textiles, Hunter brings 20 years of experience in printing and signage to his artistic practice.

Project Overview

Each recipient will receive:

• A stipend to support their work
• Accommodation and studio space for one week
• Residencies scheduled between January and June 2025 at the Grafton Regional Gallery

Sarah Gurich, Director of Grafton Regional Gallery, shared her enthusiasm for the project, stating “The Artist Respite Project is a unique partnership between Grafton Regional Gallery and Arts Northern Rivers. We are thrilled to offer this program and look forward to welcoming Holly, Kate, and Hunter to the Clarence Valley.”

This initiative not only provides a space for creativity and growth but also strengthens the cultural fabric of the Northern Rivers community. Congratulations to the recipients!

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December pool opening ‘still a possibility’ says Mayor Smith

By Tim Howard

Workers at the $30 million Clarence Regional Aquatic Centre in Grafton are “busting a gut” to get the centre’s 50m pool open before Christmas, but the weather is not helping.

Clarence Valley mayor Ray Smith said the centre managers, Clarence Valley Council, were clinging to the hope there could be a soft opening of the biggest pool before Christmas, with a “hard” opening in early 2025.

“Everyone working on the site has been busting a gut to get the main pool open this month,” he said.

“The rain has not helped, but the construction company, Hines Constructions, has been doing everything it can to keep the project on track.

“We’re still hoping we can get the 50m pool open this month, but I will have more information on that later this week.”

Ruefully Mr Smith said predictions of more rain to come in the next few days might not be good news.

In a report to the last council meeting the extent of the wet weather was revealed.

Persistent wet weather has turned the construction site of the Clarence Regional Aquatic Centre into a quagmire, posing a threat to open the centre’s 50m pool some time this month.

From October 1 to November 12, Grafton recorded 164.2mm of rainfall, which resulted in an overly wet site, affecting critical work including concrete pours, blockwork construction and electrical works.

The report noted how council staff and construction site workers combined to keep the project on track.

“While council has assisted by allocating resources to additional labour, concreting and removal of waste, the project critical path remains in danger of being met,” it read.

“Delays in construction will affect the timing of the official opening of the Aquatic Centre in its entirety.

“Council’s contractor, Hines Construction is currently working towards a partial opening in December of the Grafton Olympic Pool and surrounds.

“The Grafton Cub Scout Memorial Indoor Pool and splashpad is expected to be open in early 2025.

“It is anticipated that the construction team will finalise works before Christmas and resume in January, so the revised expected completion for the aquatic centre in its entirety is February, 2025.

“This will delay the official opening of the centre to February 2025, which also allows time for the event to be planned and arrangements made for the attendance of dignitaries, in accordance with grant agreements.”

Cr Smith said a workshop involving councillors would share ideas for an opening ceremony with the Community Focus Group to come up with a suitable ceremony.

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