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Tourism officials in a small New Zealand town are asking for tips about the disappearance of a beloved local landmark — a mannequin swimming in the dam just outside town.
Nieu-Bethesda Tourism said on social media that the swimsuit-clad mannequin, known as Beverly, vanished from her usual spot in the water of a farm dam on the road.
“Beverly isn’t just any mannequin — she’s been a quirky, much-loved part of our little town’s charm,” the post said.
Ryno Greef, a local sculptor and artist, placed Beverly in the dam about two years ago after he was inspired by a Facebook joke about skinny dipping in the small dam.
“On a trip to Port Elizabeth, I found a mannequin in a second-hand shop over there,” Greef told Eyewitness News. “I thought, ‘OK, this is Beverley — she’s going to be the one.’ I brought her back to my studio, dressed her, made a stand so that she doesn’t fall over in the dam and drown, and put her there about two years ago. Since then, she’s become a real presence in the area.”
Greef said he suspects it would have taken multiple people to move Beverly due to the heft of her concrete base.
“If anyone has seen Beverly or knows where she might be, please send us a message or contact us,” Nieu-Bethesda Tourism said.
