Puddle Jumpers experiences volunteer shortage following harassment from locals

The chief executive of a prominent SA charity says harassment from a small group of locals has led to a lack of volunteers.

The chief executive of a prominent SA charity says volunteers are leaving the organisation “in tears” as they deal with escalating harassment from locals.

Puddle Jumpers founder and chief executive Melanie Tate says the “turmoil” of the harassment the charity has endured has been “pretty hard” on their volunteers, several of whom have had their personal vehicles and property allegedly damaged.

“A volunteer had her car spray-painted and just said ‘I don’t want to come there any more’ because of that,” Ms Tate told The Advertiser.

Puddle Jumpers has experienced increased vandalism and harassment over the past month. Picture: Facebook

One of the damaged Puddle Jumpers cars. Picture: Facebook

Ms Tate said she’d had high school students walk away from work-experience placements at Puddle Jumpers because of the incidents.

Another volunteer told The Advertiser the vandals superglued shut the air valves on her tyres, forcing her to get dropped to work every day to prevent future damage to her vehicle.

Puddle Jumpers has experienced an increase in vandalism and harassment from a small group of locals over the last month, with company vehicles and property damaged, and their Glandore headquarters defaced with paint.

Puddle Jumpers told The Advertiser that Telstra even had to move their phone lines higher off the ground after they were cut by the vandals.

The charity provides camps and activities for vulnerable children who don’t live with their birth parents, a mission that’s become increasingly difficult as the harassment has increased.

CEO of Puddle Jumpers Melanie Tate has spoken out about harassment her charity has endured. Picture: Supplied

“We’ve had food thrown over the fence, padlocks superglued shut, the car spray painted,” Ms Tate says.

“I don’t know why, but it seems to come in waves.

“Over the last couple of weeks, it’s been pretty horrendous.”

The charity has tried to continue on without making a big deal out of the harassment in the past, but Ms Tate says they’ve reached the point where “enough is enough”.

Since Ms Tate shared the story of Puddle Jumpers’ ordeal on Facebook on Wednesday, she says the charity has received overwhelming support.

“At least 99 per cent of the community is very supportive of Puddle Jumpers,” she said.

“We’ve had neighbours come in and tell us, ‘just want to let you know I’m nearby and don’t hear any problems’, and ‘I’m really grateful for the work that you do’.”

A local primary school showed their support by sending Puddle Jumpers a box covered with messages of support, including a plea to the vandals to “be kind, it’s that simple”.

Ms Tate says the council has been involved in the past, and even attempted a mediation, but the disgruntled locals failed to attend.

“We’re trying to help the community, not hurt it,” she said.

“We’ve actually had reduced noise, we have reduced services on the site over the years.

“We’re not here doing trouble at all.”