Orange Health Care in Douglas victim of vandalism attack on office and company cars

A Townsville NDIS provider in Douglas was one of several targets of a woman’s brazen act of vandalism, with tyres punctured and windscreens smashed on their company cars and rocks thrown into their office front door.

Orange Health Care general manager Polly Ross with some of the vehicles which were damaged.

A Townsville NDIS provider in Douglas was one of the target of a woman’s brazen act of vandalism, with tyres punctured and windscreens smashed on their company cars and rocks thrown into their office front door.

The community health care provider, located on Riverside Boulevard, offers a range of services including home care, disability transport and health care staffing services.

They were one of several places hit by a 26-year-old Idalia woman, who has since been charged with 16 counts of wilful damage and one count each of wilful damage of police property, wilful damage of an educational institution, stealing, trespass and possessing a knife in a public place.

Queensland Police said it was alleged that around 12.20am on Monday morning, a woman attended a Vincent address and damaged two vehicles, smashing the car windows and slashing tyres with a knife.

It is further alleged that over the next two hours, the woman drove around Townsville in a white Toyota Yaris and threw rocks at multiple locations.

Damaged properties include three bars, two banks, an education centre, a hospital, support services and government buildings.

Three other vehicles were also damaged.

Queensland Police intercepted the Toyota on Thuringowa Drive and a woman was arrested.

Damage done to vehicles at Orange Health Care in Douglas.

Staff of Orange Health Care were shocked when they came to work on Monday morning to discover the damage, with general manager Polly Ross saying it was “upsetting” not only for staff but the clientele who rely on the vehicles.

“We could not offer our community services, particularly upsetting was out disability bus because we had a gentleman who needed that at 9am on Monday,” she said.

Damage done to seven company vehicles and a staff vehicle at Orange Health Care in Douglas, including punctured tyres and smashed windscreens.

“The first reaction was ‘deep breaths, how do we fix this’?”

“It’s a big impact on a small company to have the fleet of seven vehicles all go down at the same time.”

Ms Ross said the senseless vandalism was most saddening due to the cars being an ‘essential’ part of their services, but the costs to repair the damage.

“I just don’t understand why someone would be so malicious to target someone that’s helping people in the community that are disadvantaged and have a disability.”

Punctured tyres on a wheelchair van at Orange Health Care in Douglas.

In a show of community support, local tyre centre Bob Jane T Mart offered their support and got the cars back into action in a short amount of time, with the cars back on the road by 11:15am on Monday.

“That was really great,” Ms Ross said.

Orange Health Care general manager Polly Ross with some of the vehicles which were damaged.

“They were understanding and knew what we needed and that we needed it quickly.”

Despite the commotion, Ms Ross said she and her staff are back to business as usual.

“We’re not going to let this get us down,” she said.

“What I love about this company is we have rallied, we’ve got community spirit.”

Originally published as Orange Health Care in Douglas victim of vandalism attack on office and company cars