Two-day closure of childcare centre due to extent of damage

An early learning centre in Cairns has been trashed twice in the span of a week and parents are struggling to cope with the “senseless vandalism” that is affecting their children.

A childcare centre in Cairns was trashed by vandals on Saturday, following two earlier incidents of breaking in, all within one week.

The extent of damage has required the centre, which is located in Brinsmead, to be closed for two full days as representatives from the national office look into the matter.

Photos of the damage showed a desk badly damaged by fire, paint tossed around a classroom, and the centre thoroughly trashed.

A Queensland Police spokesman confirmed they were continuing investigations after a group of offenders caused damage to a Brinsmead education centre in two incidents over the weekend.

Police said initial investigations indicated around 5.30pm on Sunday, the group allegedly gained access to the centre again before being disturbed by a security guard, following which police arrived on scene and took two teenagers into custody.

A 12-year-old Manoora boy and 13 year-old Edmonton boy were dealt with under the provisions of the Youth Justice Act.

It followed an earlier incident discovered on Sunday morning where the childcare centre was vandalised.

Genius Childcare in Brinsmead has again been broken into and vandalised with paint splattered across walls and a fire lit on a table. Picture: Supplied.

“It is an extremely upsetting situation for everyone involved. This is not the first time our service has been targeted,” Ellen Porter, national operations manager at Mayfield Childcare Ltd which owns Genius Childcare in Brinsmead, said.

“We have had two break-ins on site. There has been extensive damage on site to attend to. The service is closed whilst making those rectifications. Our priority is the well being of the team – staff, children and families involved.

“It is a challenge for any business to close doors but because its childcare, it affects the community. Members of our team from Victoria are on site investigating the matter.”

An outpouring of community reaction on social media showed that while people were angry and shocked by the “horrible and disrespectful” act and called for the perpetrators to be “named and shamed”, a huge number also stepped forward to offer a helping hand in cleaning up the space.

Bridie Peach, whose child attends the kindy program at the centre, considers herself lucky as she works from home and has a partner who has days off on Monday, but said many other families would not have that flexibility or family support.

“I do know that the centre was letting families know that if they really required care for Monday and Tuesday they were encouraged to go to the sister daycare centre in Clifton, but again for a lot of families that is a long way away compared to Brinsmead,” she said.

“They could have lost income being home with their children. It is two days this week, last week it was one day.”

Vandals trashed Genius Childcare in Brinsmead twice in a week, including an attempt to set a table on fire. Picture: Supplied.

Ms Peach said the centre had been closed last Monday, after it had been broken into the previous weekend.

“Then there was another night during the week where they entered, but no damage was sustained this time,” Ms Peach said.

“However on Saturday night, they were broken into a third time and this time there was a lot of vandalism. A couple of desks were attempted to be lit on fire, paint was splattered up the walls. Senseless vandalism, really.”

According to Ms Peach, an overwhelming number of parents and other families in the area came forward to help clean up the mess but the centre, being a privately run entity has not opened doors to the public, in accordance with their policies and procedures.

“It’s senseless and its sad because its vandalism without a point. Not affecting adults who can process and compartmentalise their feelings, but its affecting infants and children. It is hurting babies.”

Ms Peach, who works in youth services, said that she could not wrap her head around the mentality of the criminals.

“I do understand that there are some very troubled youth out there and usually there is some motivation behind their behaviours but for something like this, I have no understanding simply because the people who it affects are primarily babies,” she said.

“Brinsmead is now not as safe as it was once perceived to be and it is unfortunate because it is a beautiful suburb, with lovely families, retirees, young couples, a variety of people and demographics.

“It only ever takes a few to ruin something for the whole.”

Originally published as Two-day closure of childcare centre due to extent of damage