Hundreds at Warrandyte Anzac service despite vandals tagging cenotaph

THE Warrandyte community turned out in full force to commemorate Anzac Day this morning despite vandals attacking the monument yesterday.

Lest we forget.

THE Warrandyte community turned out in full force to commemorate Anzac Day this morning after the RSL cenotaph was attacked by graffiti vandals yesterday.

Heartless vandals used red paint to scrawl ‘War is Murder’ and other anarchy symbols on the cenotaph and commemorative plaques.

RELATED: Warrandyte RSL members wake on eve of Anzac Day to find their memorial vandalised

Veterans and supporters march behind bagpipe player Lachlan McSwain. Picture: Steve Tanner

Veterans and supporters march. Picture: Steve Tanner

Warrandyte RSL pushed ahead with its Anzac Day service and parade despite the sub-branch's monument being vandalised the previous day. Picture: Steve Tanner

A Manningham Council team headed out after the vandalism was discovered first thing on Monday morning and cleaned the base of the monument, while professional stonemasons cleaned up the plaques

Their hard work allowed many to lay wreaths in front of a good-as-new monument this morning in a moving ceremony, somehow made more poignant because of the attack.

Warrandyte RSL’s Anzac Day service. Picture: Steve Tanner

Warrandyte RSL’s Anzac Day service. Picture: Steve Tanner

RSL members marched down the main street of Warrandyte before heading off to the service in the grounds of their sub-branch in Brackenbury St where the cenotaph is situated.

Manningham Council chief executive Warwick Winn said council “was extremely disappointed” with the vandalism and urged anyone with any knowledge of the incident to pass it on to police.

Warrandtye RSL president Hank Van Der Helm earlier slammed the “disgusting idiots” who trashed the memorial.

Mr Van Der Helm said he had learned of the vile act via Facebook.

He said he immediately went down to the RSL to assess the damage and the extent of the clean-up required before the service.

“I’m pretty disgusted. Unfortunately it’s the sort of thing you come to expect from the morons in our society,” Mr Van Der Helm said.

Readers have lambasted the taggers both online and on Facebook, calling for offenders to be jailed when they are found.