Have you seen any graffiti tags on buildings around town?
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Is there any brightly coloured writing on the skate park?
If your answer is no, that’s on Ted, and you’re welcome.
If you do happen to have spied an unruly scrap of graffiti though, you’d best give him a call quick smart, because he would like to do something about it.
The self-appointed graffiti buster, Ted has been a big presence in town for as long as most people can remember.
But why did he come here?
And what made him stay?
Following retirement Ted wandered on up the highway, with lovely wife Denise, and a gaggle of kids in tow because they fancied a change of pace from the hectic Sydney scene.
Why did they choose the Great Lakes?
“No reason at all,” Ted said.
“We decided we wanted to live somewhere a bit smaller, so we just drove up the coast.
“We looked up at Port Macquarie and Coffs Harbour and they were too big, and then we found here, and that was that.
“The people here are so generous, it’s a great community.”
Since arriving, Ted has played a big part in shaping the community, rattling around town in his brightly coloured truck, keeping the walls and windows of the community graffiti free and sparking.
But when he first started ridding the Great Lakes of graffiti, Ted was on foot, before advancing to a bicycle.
“I have the right paint for every building in town.
“As soon as new building goes up I go and buy four litres of its paint.
“This is a great community, we have trust.
“I don’t know where else you would find that.”
In 2008 Ted was awarded an Order of Australia for his community work – both for his graffiti removal efforts and as a mentor and supporter of young people.
Ted regularly works with offenders who clean graffiti as part of their community service orders and he says this is some of his most rewarding work.
The Great Lakes is possibly the only graffiti free area in the State.