Woollies mark festival start | Warwick News | Local News in Warwick

WHO would have thought when TJ Byrnesfirst appeared on Palmerin Street shrouded with scarf and beanie six years ago to mark the start of Jumpers and Jazz celebrations, it would have been surrounded by controversy.

“Apparently it was considered disrespectful,” Warwick Art Gallery director Karina Devine said.

Six years on, dressing the statue of the Member for Warwick from 1896 to 1898 heralds the beginning of the Rose City's quirky festival.

During yesterday's brisk morn, about 6.30am, six council workers and a cherry picker stopped traffic to don the larger-than-human-sized scarf and beanie.

“I love this tradition because it says to the community 'here it comes',” Ms Devine laughed.

If you are wandering down our main street, do not be tempted to scale Mr Byrnes and borrow his knitted kit lovingly made by Dawn Booth and the Warwick Spinners and Weavers.

“Toward the end of Jumpers and Jazz last year, someone pinched his beanie and scarf,” Ms Devine said.

“Now it's all cable-tied together and to Mr Byrnes's arm.”