Nangwarry Saints Football Club deliberately set on fire
A country football club has vowed to rebuild after a callous arson attack, which has the tiny town living in fear of escalating fires.
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- Seven house fires in 18 months in tiny southeast town of Nangwarry
- Nangwarry timber mill closes, 26 employees redundant
- Nangwarry Saints upbeat despite 58-game, four-year losing streak
A country football club has vowed to rebuild after a callous arson attack, which has the tiny town living in fear of escalating fires.
The timber clubrooms of the Nangwarry Saints Football Club, in the state’s South-East, were destroyed in a deliberate attack on Wednesday evening.
The fire caused an estimated $500,000 damage but also compounded the recent closure of the Nangwarry’s main employer, the local timber mill.
The club is the latest target in a spate of arson attacks in the town of 500, with at least 10 fires destroying homes and cars since May 2015.
Nangwarry Saints Football Club secretary Tamara Ploenges said the attack was a worrying escalation in the series of arson incidents.
“It is definitely scary,” Ms Ploenges said.
“It is a pretty big jump from vacant houses to a public building. The next step would be a house with someone inside.
“I know that is the town’s fear – that the thing could a life will be lost.”
The clubrooms were the social hub for the football and netball teams after trainings and games.
While the club considers their next step and reaches out to the local council and businesses, the nearby community hall will fill the gap left by the fire.
Ms Ploenges said the coming football and netball season would not be affected by the fire. “We will definitely be playing as normal come next season,” she said.
Club president Shane Ploenges, who is currently in Melbourne, said he had been receiving calls since the tragic news broke. “Everyone is just gutted at the moment … lots of hard work and history all gone,” he said.
“We will get together as a committee and look at what we can do going forward.”
Country Fire Service volunteers rushed to Bednall Dr after a neighbour reported seeing flames at the club about 11.30pm on Wednesday.
When firefighters arrived, they found the clubrooms engulfed in flames and little could be done to save the building, the CFS said.
But a determined effort from more than 30 firefighters managed to contain the blaze and save the nearby dressing rooms. There were no injuries.
Fire cause investigators examined the scene yesterday morning and police confirmed the blaze was deliberately lit.
Officer in Charge of Limestone Coast LSA Superintendent Grant Moyle said the community was “rightfully concerned” about the spate of fires but appealed to the public for more information to find the arsonist.
“It’s not like these fires are happening every night … so they are difficult to address in regards to how do we police them,” he said.
“We can increase police patrols (in Nangwarry) but that doesn’t necessarily mean they are going to be at the right place at the right time when someone is out committing these offences.
“It’s up to the community to tell us if they see any suspicious activity or they have any suspicion about anybody.”
Supt Moyle warned the offenders that serious criminal charges could be laid.
“They clearly do not appreciate the impact they have on the community or they don’t care,” he said.
“For whatever reason they may light the fire, there will be consequences.”
Wattle Range Council Mayor Des Noll said it stood ready to support the club and the community.
Nangwarry Saints Football Club was a powerhouse during the 1990s, claiming four flags between 1993 and 1999.
In recent years the club has been in the midst of a four-year losing streak with an average losing margin of 195 points.
BLAZE OF DESTRUCTION IN NANGWARRY
May 27, 2015: Empty house on Ritchie St destroyed by fire, resulting in $50,000 damage. The cause of the blaze was undetermined.
September 13, 2015: Unoccupied house on Vaughan Tce burnt down. There was also a grass fire on nearby McIntosh St on the same night. Police are still investigating.
January 19, 2016: Fire started in one house on Ritchie St, which spread to and destroyed a second house and also damaged a third. The cause was found to be an electrical fault.
May 8, 2016: A car in a garage caught on fire at a house on Ritchie St. Neighbour put it out. Police believed it was suspicious.
June 28, 2016: Same Ritchie St house as the earlier car fire was gutted by fire. Police said the blaze was suspicious.
August 9, 2016: House fire on Laffer St when the owner was not home. The cause was undetermined but police believed it was not suspicious. The damage bill was estimated at $320,000.
December 17, 2016: Faulty heater caused a fire that destroyed a home on Laffer St. The cost was estimated at $150,000.
April 18, 2018: Two sheds on Ritchie St were destroyed in a blaze, causing $200,000 damage.
May 27, 2018: A house and a car on Ritchie St were gutted with the damage bill reaching $50,000. This is the sixth recorded blaze on Ritchie St.
July 22, 2018: The last fire before the club blaze recorded by Limestone Coast police.
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