The vehicle was stolen when a section was cut from the school fence to make way for what was likely a truck or utility to transport the stolen property.

School principal Angela O’Callaghan said the theft had impacted students at both NHS and Narromine Public School and the cost to replace the mower would mean less money for educational resources.

“It’s a very significant loss. Of course it’s a tremendous inconvenience because it is particularly important to keep our lawn and playing areas mown,” she said.

“We share our oval with the primary school so it’s basically 700 students in Narromine who have to put up with the inconvenience.

“When the person or persons took our lawn mower they have really taken from every child in the Narromine public schools... we’ve all been affected,”

“I know we had one quote for $29,000, so that’s money which won’t be available for school students so it’s a great concern.”

The mower was a red Shibaura CM274 with black roll bar and seat and white wheels.

The school’s general assistant Lloyd Campbell said it was taken sometime between September 22 and 25 in the days following the dust storm.

Mr Campbell, who is responsible for maintaining the school oval, has felt the loss perhaps more than anyone continuing his work “with great difficulty’ ever since the mower was stolen.

Mr Campbell said NPS was kind enough to lend him its lawn mower however the much smaller model meant his 45 minute job, mowing the school’s oval, took four hours under direct sunlight.

“It’s too hot out there now because on the little ones there’s no protection,” he said.

“The playing fields have been left to their own devices.”

Mr Campbell said it appeared a large hole in the fence was made so the mower could be lifted onto the back of a utility or truck.

“It appears to me as if it was a targeted theft, it was very well planned not opportunistic,” he said.

“I know for a fact they cut a hole in the fence on the bypass road to bring in either a truck or ute.

“They have just towed it out or dragged it out... then it has just disappeared into thin air.”

Narromine police have asked anybody with information regarding the theft to call them on 6889 1444 or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.