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

UPDATE: THE vandalised Warrandyte war memorial will be cleaned up before tomorrow’s Anzac march and service.

Warrandyte RSL president Henk van der Helm at the vandalised war memorial site. Picture: Steve Tanner

UPDATE: THE vandalised Warrandyte war memorial will be cleaned up before tomorrow’s Anzac march and service.

Manningham Council chief executive Warwick Winn said a council team would this afternoon remove the graffiti discovered by shocked members this morning, which included the words “War is murder” and the anarchy symbol scrawled in red spray paint.

“Manningham Council is extremely disappointed by these actions and would encourage anyone with any information to contact the police,” Mr Winn said.

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 tomorrow’s march and memorial 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.

He said Manningham Council cleaners were assessing the damage, but the clean-up is expected to be costly due to the memorial’s gold leafing.

“Hopefully we can get it fixed up for Anzac Day but the biggest problem is going to be the gold leaving because it’s pretty expensive. We don’t know who’s going to do that at this stage,” he said.

Mr Van Der Helm said Warrandyte police had been alerted.

“We’re all pretty disgusted but we’re optimistic that we’ll get it looking right again for tomorrow,” he said.

The Warrandyte RSL’s Anzac Day service starts at 10.30am tomorrow.

Members will march in Yarra St before a commemorative service planned to be held at the monument.

Jake Clancy posted a photo of the damage to Facebook page Warrandyte Business and Community Network.

“Pretty disgusted to see our war memorial vandalised the day before Anzac Day,” he wrote.

Scores of other commenters condemned the act, including Kim Bishop: “Nobody joins the force to kill people you join the force to protect your loved ones, to serve your country and to be peace keepers!

Anyone with information about last night’s vandalism can call Crimestoppers on 1800 333 000.