Donations pour in after Kinglake school targeted by burglars
When heartless crooks struck Kinglake West Primary’s music department, stealing thousands of dollars of equipment donated after the Black Saturday bushfires, the news went “absolutely viral”. And the community responded in a “remarkable” way.
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Donations have poured in after thieves ransacked a Kinglake school’s music department, stealing $7500 worth of equipment donated after the devastating Black Saturday bushfires.
The crooks struck three times in late November and early October, using crowbars to smash their way into Kinglake West Primary School and steal six acoustic and electric guitars, five bass amplifiers and a keyboard.
Principal Mark Portman said the school had received so many donations he was planning to set up a special borrowing program, so all the instruments could be put to use.
“The news of our burglary went absolutely viral,” he said.
“We had people driving in off the street to donate instruments to us and they’ve all just said ‘Here have a keyboard’ or ‘There have a guitar’.
“We even had one man drive all the way from Seymour — it’s remarkable community generosity.”
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Mr Portman said the school had ended up with more instruments than before the series of burglaries.
“Yamaha came in and replaced the lot, plus other donations from the community,” he said.
“It’s all for the kids at the end of the day — they don’t miss out.
“It’s also a reminder that community spirit always triumphs.”
Kinglake police is investigating the burglaries.
Anyone with information is urged to phone Kinglake police station on 5786 1333 or Kinglake West Primary School on 5786 5262.