Vegans, meat lovers face off in fence graffiti spat

VEGANS and meat lovers are defacing fences in a tit-for-tat graffiti battle in Greensborough as the council tries to shut the grudge sport down.

What will it say next? New slogans keep cropping up and the council’s efforts to clean off the graffiti are fruitless. Picture: Justin Capicchiano

VEGANS and meat lovers are defacing fences in a tit-for-tat graffiti battle in Greensborough as the council tries to shut the grudge sport down.

The slogan war has just upped the steaks, with “say no to tofu” the latest phrase to appear on a fence.

The feud started in July when someone tagged a fence in St Helena Rd with the slogan “Be Vegan.”

According to locals, what appears to be a fed-up meat eater added two strokes to the tag and changed it to “Be Megan.”

The original “Be Vegan” slogan was altered — by Megan? Picture: Justin Capicchiano

Soon after the original graffiti was cleaned off, this appeared. Picture: Justin Capicchiano

The battle was officially on between Megan and the vegans.

Not one to mince their words, another slogan appeared saying “eat rissoles” soon after the original tag was painted over.

Later, another popped up with “say no to tofu.”

While Banyule Council is in a stew about the graffitied statements, their efforts to paint over the words appear fruitless. Every time they clean up the fence, another slogan painter butchers it up again days later.

Resident Justin Capicchiano told the Leader that “it’s been the biggest tit-for-tat the valley has ever seen,” with words fired by carnivores moments after their statements are painted over.

“It honestly lasts 24 hours before it is hit again,” he said.

The satirical newspaper The Watsonia Bugle claim to have spoken with ‘Megan’, the repeat offender.

“She seemed quite passionate about her cause, but equally protective of her identity, out of fear of getting into trouble for her public graffiti,” a reporter at the Bugle said.

“She clearly still seems invested in the fight ... the tofu slogan is definitely her hand writing.”

Someone really likes meat. Picture: Justin Capicchiano

According to Peta McDee, who commented on Diamond Valley Leader’s Facebook page, there is vegan graffiti all over Briar Hill “on those little fire hydrants and elsewhere.”

While Greensborough becoming Meats-borough has been entertaining for passers-by, homeowners of the canvassed fence are becoming fed up.

Leader has attempted to speak to the homeowner.

Banyule Mayor Cr Tom Melican. said council was aware of the graffiti war between vegans and meat eaters on a park fence at Andrew Yandell Reserve, and continued to paint over the graffiti as it appeared.

He said the council spent about $150,000 each year removing graffiti, money which otherwise could be put towards community services.

The last word belongs to Chris Stead, who commented on Facebook: “Someone needs a good steak.”