<div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>An Indigenous-Australian artist is pleading with </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/australia-post" rel="" target="_blank" title="Australia Post"><span>Australia Post</span></a><span> for help after her irreplaceable painting worth $4000 became lost in transit over Christmas.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Bobbi Lockyer spent more than 100 hours painting a one-of-a-kind commissioned </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/arts" rel="" target="_blank" title="artwork"><span>artwork</span></a><span> for a customer and, like many of her pieces, sent it via express post.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Lockyer, who is based in </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/darwin" rel="" target="_blank" title="Darwin"><span>Darwin</span></a><span>, told nine.com.au she was instructed to pack her tube in a cardboard sleeve before paying the postage and sending it away.</span></div></div><div><div id="adspot-mobile-medium"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/uk-eta-for-australian-2026-travel-rules-changes-dual-citizen-passport-requirements/6d415761-bdea-4d26-8aa5-35baf5cda026" rel="" target="_blank" title="'Doesn't feel fair': Australian-British citizens caught out by new passport rule"><strong><span>'Doesn't feel fair': Australian-British citizens caught out by new passport rule</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE: </span></strong><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/northcote-mcdonalds-fast-food-giant-quietly-files-vcat-action-to-appeal-council-decision/dde8a91d-54df-49c1-91e6-4c196fdf9bed" rel="" target="_blank" title="Macca's fights back after council blocks 24-hour joint on trendy street"><strong><span>Macca's fights back after council blocks 24-hour joint on trendy street</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>On Christmas Eve, Lockyer's customer sent a frantic message.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The only thing that had arrived on her doorstep was the empty cardboard sleeve.</span></div></div><div><div class="OUTBRAIN" data-reactroot="" data-src="//www.9news.com.au/national/bobbi-lockyer-artist-commissioned-painting-missing-in-transit/a754d777-0568-4d17-94cb-8ac9dcf527a6" data-widget-id="AR_5"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"She sends me a picture of the empty cardboard sleeve and my heart just dropped," Lockyer explained.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"I immediately drove down to the post office on Christmas Eve, it was so busy and I waited in line."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Lockyer said she was told Australia Post would open up a case and trace the package route to find where the tube containing the painting became lost.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>For the past several weeks, it's been an agonising waiting game.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><em><strong><span>Do you have a story? Contact</span></strong></em><span> </span><strong><em><span>reporter April Glover at</span></em></strong><span> </span><a href="mailto:april.glover@nine.com.au" target="" title="april.glover@nine.com.au"><em><strong><span>april.glover@nine.com.au</span></strong></em></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE: </span></strong><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/january-6-capital-riot-washington-dc-five-years-on-pam-hemphill-interview/909c5123-1f11-4139-89da-bfb3b96ac69c" rel="" target="_blank" title="Pam stormed the Capitol five years ago. Now, she admits it was 'wrong'"><strong><span>Pam stormed the Capitol five years ago. Now, she admits it was 'wrong'</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"It's heartbreaking for me and for the customer who was expecting this piece and she's paid this money," Lockyer said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"I've offered her to redo it. Obviously, it wouldn't be identical, but I would redo it absolutely or refund her. But I just feel like the accountability from Australia Post has been zero."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>She is waiting, with fading hope, for the painting to be recovered before starting all over again.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Lockyer said she didn't pay for extra cover on the item.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Extra cover is recommended for items with a higher value.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>In a statement shared with nine.com.au, an Australia Post spokesperson said it was in contact with Lockyer.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Australia Post's processing and delivery teams work hard to handle every item with care and deliver them safely, however in a network of this size, things do occasionally go wrong," the spokesperson said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"We have apologised to the customer and continue to search for the item throughout our network."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Most Australia Post services come with up to $100 compensation for loss or damages.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Claims for compensation are assessed on a case-by-case basis.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/superannuation-australia-victorian-woman-marilyn-late-husband-life-insurance-payout-and-super-both-lost/9fef3d02-1b93-444a-9698-0af6eda9b299" target="_blank" title="Marilyn's retirement and husband's life insurance payout were drained without warning"><strong><span>Marilyn's retirement and husband's life insurance payout were drained without warning</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The renowned artist, whose work has been featured at the Australian Open in the past, said the experience has dented her trust in the national postage system.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Lockyer's studio is in the NT and most of her paintings are commissioned by customers who live interstate.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"There was a lot of tears and I just thought I'm never going to send paintings again through Australia Post," she said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"It's made me worried for future work."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>According to Australia Post, per the Australian Postal Corporation Act 1989, and the Australian Consumer Law, the service "does not accept liability for any consequential or indirect loss or damage arising due to any failure related to our service".</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/how-to-follow-9news-digital/29855bb1-ad3d-4c38-bc25-3cb52af1216f" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>DOWNLOAD THE 9NEWS APP</span></em></strong></a><strong><em><span>: Stay across all the latest in breaking news, sport, politics and the weather via our news app and get notifications sent straight to your smartphone. 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