MUNDARING’S Kookaburra Outdoor Cinema had its ride on lawnmower stolen on the month of its scheduled reopening and are seeking community support to find a replacement.

The Mundaring landmark had finally recovered enough to announce its reopening in November as reported in Kookaburra Cinema reopens next month.

Owner Peter Foyster arrived at the cinema at the beginning of the month to put a new battery in the ride on mower but arrived to find it had been taken over the weekend.

The perpetrators reportedly broke down a portion of the fence near the metal shed, snapping the bolt of the door as they forced entry into the establishment.

Mr Foyster said the incident came at a strange time and deprived them of a piece of equipment especially suited for treating their cinema grounds.

“We have gone for 10 years without any incidents, and this happened on the same day we bought a new battery for the mower,” he said.

“Very strange and very disappointing.

“We’ve been looking unsuccessfully so far for a replacement.

“It’s a specific mower, a Husqvarna R120C.

“Our stolen mower had comparatively little use over the years, (and) it was chosen specifically for its suitability for mowing the lawn at Kookaburra.”

The lawnmower was chosen as it mulched the clippings so there wasn’t a need to collect them afterwards.

Mr Foyster said its front mounted blades and the way that it steered made it easy to get around the tables and the seats and worked with a tank on wheels that connected to the rear of the mower and picked up power from a battery to work a sprayer unit.

“Very important for treating some of the weeds that come up just before the season starts, so we really need the same model, if possible,” he said.

“If anyone knows of anyone who is selling one, please point them in our direction.

“Being a little older these days, a ride on mower is the best thing for (me) to use.”

Kookaburra cinema staff confirmed the theft wouldn’t delay the opening of the cinema.

Mr Foyster also praised the efforts of the Wooroloo Prison’s S95 crew once again for attending to help with final preparations for the opening.

“They came (on Tuesday) and (Thursday) helping do a final clean up,” he said.

“They had to put some more canvases on some of the seats and I showed them how to do it.

“They were efficient as anything and had it all done in half an hour.

“They’ve been a terrific help, and their efforts should be recognised.”