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Rolf Harris's home town removes all signs of former favourite son Rolf Harris's home town removes all signs of former favourite son
(35 minutes later)
The town in Western Australia where Rolf Harris was born has voted to purge itself of the disgraced entertainer, with the convicted sex offender's legacy being all but erased.The town in Western Australia where Rolf Harris was born has voted to purge itself of the disgraced entertainer, with the convicted sex offender's legacy being all but erased.
On Thursday night the town of Bassendean's council voted to remove its former favourite son from its history. Harris' artwork will be put in storage indefinitely and a plaque outside his childhood home overlooking the Swan River, 12km east of Perth, will be dug up. The council also withdrew the honour of making Harris a freeman of the town, effective immediately. A photograph of Harris, which hung in the council chambers, was removed in May after he was charged. On Thursday night Bassendean's council voted to remove its former favourite son from its history. Harris's artwork will be put in storage indefinitely and a plaque outside his childhood home overlooking the Swan river, 12km east of Perth, will be dug up. The council also withdrew the honour of making Harris a freeman of the town, effective immediately. A photograph of Harris, which used to hang in the council chambers, was removed in May after he was charged.
Harris was found guilty at Southwark crown court in London on Tuesday on all 12 counts of indecently assaulting four girls in the UK between 1968 and 1986. The 84-year-old, who moved to England in 1952, could still face further charges as police investigate fresh allegations against him.Harris was found guilty at Southwark crown court in London on Tuesday on all 12 counts of indecently assaulting four girls in the UK between 1968 and 1986. The 84-year-old, who moved to England in 1952, could still face further charges as police investigate fresh allegations against him.
John Gangell, the mayor of Bassendean, told a small gathering of media that the town wanted to make a stand for the victims.John Gangell, the mayor of Bassendean, told a small gathering of media that the town wanted to make a stand for the victims.
Not one member of the public turned out – a far cry from the 15,000 people who greeted Harris, known as the boy from Bassendean, in 2001 to mark the centenary of the local council.Not one member of the public turned out – a far cry from the 15,000 people who greeted Harris, known as the boy from Bassendean, in 2001 to mark the centenary of the local council.
"We ultimately decided to take a stance and draw a line in the sand," Gangell said."We ultimately decided to take a stance and draw a line in the sand," Gangell said.
"No longer is it tolerable if you hold a privileged position or a special status to be allowed to have artwork displayed or talent exhibited after a conviction."No longer is it tolerable if you hold a privileged position or a special status to be allowed to have artwork displayed or talent exhibited after a conviction.
"We have decided that the victims are first and foremost in the decision tonight". "We have decided that the victims are first and foremost in the decision tonight."
Gangell said the artwork and honours would be removed sometime next week. He said it had been a hard, tough week for the Town of Bassendean. Gangell said the artwork and honours would be removed sometime next week. He said it had been a hard, tough week for the town.
"But what they need to remember is that these are heinous crimes he has been convicted of, crimes that nobody would want to have happen to their own children, their grandchildren, their nieces, their nephews," he said."But what they need to remember is that these are heinous crimes he has been convicted of, crimes that nobody would want to have happen to their own children, their grandchildren, their nieces, their nephews," he said.
Despite Harris' convictions people in his home town are divided about his legacy. Despite Harris's convictions people in his home town were divided about his legacy.
Karen Nicoletto, 49, who was walking her dogs past Harris' former homestead, says the plaque outside his childhood home should stay. Karen Nicoletto, 49, who was walking her dogs past Harris's former homestead, said the plaque outside his childhood home should stay.
"I'll probably get in trouble for saying this, but I think the plaque should stay were it is," she said. "There is still history there no matter what has happened.""I'll probably get in trouble for saying this, but I think the plaque should stay were it is," she said. "There is still history there no matter what has happened."
Ian Sharp, 18, who was having a beer with his mates at the Bassendean Hotel, said what Harris did was "disgusting"."He put Basse on the map, but it's disappointing." Ian Sharp, 18, who was having a beer with his mates at the Bassendean hotel, said what Harris did was "disgusting".
Harris will be stripped of other prestigious awards and honours, including his Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) and his British Academy of Film and Television Arts (Bafta) Fellowship. "He put Basse on the map, but it's disappointing," he said.
Harris is to be stripped of other prestigious awards and honours, including his Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) and his British Academy of Film and Television Arts (Bafta) Fellowship.
On Thursday Harris was stripped of his honorary doctorate from the University of East London.On Thursday Harris was stripped of his honorary doctorate from the University of East London.
Earlier this week, Harris was dumped from the Australian Recording Industry Association Hall of Fame.Earlier this week, Harris was dumped from the Australian Recording Industry Association Hall of Fame.
On Tuesday the Western Australian department of education removed artwork from the Perth Modern School where Harris attended secondary school.On Tuesday the Western Australian department of education removed artwork from the Perth Modern School where Harris attended secondary school.
And the City of Perth will decide on 15 July whether to tear up a footpath plaque in Perth's CBD honouring Harris. And the City of Perth is to decide on 15 July whether to tear up a footpath plaque in Perth's CBD honouring Harris.
Harris will be sentenced on Friday. Harris is to be sentenced on Friday.