A prestigious Aboriginal artist has been left heartbroken after a valuable painting she spent over a hundred hours creating vanished while in the care of Australia Post.
A precious Christmas gift disappears
Just before the festive season, Ngarluma, Kariyarra, Nyulnyul and Yawuru artist Bobbi Lockyer carefully packaged a commissioned canvas worth $4,000. She sent it via express post with tracking, following specific packaging instructions given by a staff member at her local Australia Post office.
Instead of the vibrant artwork, the recipient opened their delivery on Christmas Eve to find nothing but an empty cardboard tube. The painting, intended as a special Christmas gift for a long-time collector, was gone.
'Cut and paste' responses and a fight for compensation
Lockyer described the loss as "devastating" and "heartbreaking," particularly as her client's family had gathered for the unveiling. She expressed frustration at what she called "cut and paste" responses from the national postal service during her attempts to resolve the issue.
Despite providing invoices to prove the artwork's value and repeatedly reopening closed complaint cases, Lockyer says Australia Post initially refused compensation, suggesting the item was not packaged properly. "They said they could not offer compensation at this time, and that it was the sender's fault," she stated.
Australia Post's apology and ongoing search
In a statement, an Australia Post spokesperson apologised to Lockyer and confirmed the search for the missing artwork is ongoing throughout their network. They acknowledged that while teams work hard to handle items with care, "in a network of this size, things do occasionally go wrong."
The incident highlights the limitations of standard postal insurance. Australia Post's policies state that general services are suitable for items valued up to $100, with most covering only that amount for loss or damage. They recommend purchasing extra cover for more valuable goods.
For Bobbi Lockyer, the loss represents more than financial value; it is the disappearance of a significant piece of cultural artwork and countless hours of creative labour. The search for the missing painting continues.
