Castle Hill Girl Guides clubhouse in West End vandalised

A number of generous people and groups have volunteered time and supplies to help clean up a Townsville Girl Guides hut that was allegedly trashed by a trio of teens.

Rachael Armstrong at the Castle Hill Girl Guides which was trashed. Picture: Evan Morgan

Following the heartbreaking news that a Townsville Girl Guides hut was allegedly vandalised last weekend, groups of people and organisations have offered to volunteer their time and supplies to help get the club back on its feet.

Mother, Rachael Armstrong whose two daughters have attended the Castle Hill Girl Guides hut in West End for the last few years said she’s received contact from multiple people asking how they can help clean up the building.

“Bunnings is also providing garbage bags and gloves and have offered to get paint donated to repaint the clubhouse,” she said.

She said the hardware store had also offered spaces for the club to use while the hut was being repaired.

This Saturday at 2pm at the hut on Harold and Percy Streets friends of the club will meet to start picking up rubbish and cleaning what’s been destroyed.

Mrs Armstrong said Townsville City Council have also arranged for free rubbish pick up from the hut on Monday morning, will provide graffiti cleaning kits and will organise an upgrade to the lighting at the hut to ensure its more visible.

“A lot of people are outraged but they want to help us get on our feet,” she said.

Residents interested in lending a hand are urged to contact the Townsville Bulletin via emailing [e-mail].

Rachael Armstrong at the Castle Hill Girl Guides which was trashed. Picture: Evan Morgan

Three teenagers managed to walk free despite being caught red-handed after breaking into and trashing a Girl Guides clubhouse in Townsville.

Police will allege three offenders forcefully gained entry to the clubhouse on Harold Street, West End building on Sunday around 9.20am.

They allegedly caused extensive damage to both the interior and exterior of the building but were interrupted by a member of public before being arrested by police a short time later.

Two 15-year-old girls from Garbutt and a 15-year-old boy from West End were charged in relation to this incident.

They were all charged with one count each of enter premises with intent to commit indictable offence, wilful damage, wilful damage by graffiti, and interfere with fire safety apparatuses.

The male was also charged with obstruct police.

They were all dealt with under the provisions of the Youth Justices Act.

EARLIER: A mum whose children have been going to a Townsville Girl Guides for the last three years has shared her and her children’s devastation after seeing photos of the clubhouse destroyed.

Mother of two, Rachael Armstrong said she received photographs of the Castle Hill Girl Guides hut located on the corner of Percy and Harold Sts West End vandalised, with much of the children’s belongings inside destroyed.

She revealed that around 10am Sunday morning another woman had attended the hut to grab supplies and as she walked through the front door, two people allegedly ran out the back and she found the place in complete disarray.

“It’s fully trashed,” Mrs Armstrong said.

Rachael Armstrong at the Castle Hill Girl Guides which was trashed. Picture: Evan Morgan

The images depicted graffiti on the walls, open fridges and furniture in complete shambles as if a tornado has blown through it.

“(Guides) is something the kids look forward to,” Mrs Armstrong said.

“They learn to cook and it gives them good life skills and engages them in a community group that does things for the community which is what we want youth to be doing.

“My daughters saw the photos and asked what happened. They’re shocked and upset and they said ‘how could they do this? It’s so evil’.”

Rachael Armstrong at the Castle Hill Girl Guides which was trashed. Picture: Evan Morgan

The mother said it was an awful feeling to see a group where her children have always felt so safe, be treated in such a disrespectful way.

“This is a place where they can be kids and not worry about anything, and this sort of thing, it takes that innocence away from it,” she said.

“Knowing that things like this can happen.”

She said despite the sadness, her kids and other girls part of the club have expressed their desire to help clean up the place once investigations are finalised and that she was looking to write a letter to council regarding funds that can be accessed to help pay for security.

“As a small group it’s not really affordable to be able to put in CCTV,” Mrs Armstrong said.

“They fundraise as much as they can but they’re meant to offset the costs for the camps they go on but now it’s going to have be spent repairing and replacing things.”

Rachael Armstrong at the Castle Hill Girl Guides which was trashed. Picture: Evan Morgan

A Queensland Police spokesman said two 15-year-old girls from Garbutt and a 15-year-old boy from the West End had been arrested in relation to the incident.

“They were all charged with enter premises with one count each of intent to commit indictable offence, wilful damage, wilful damage by graffiti, and interfere with fire safety apparatuses,” a QPS spokeswoman said.

“The male was also charged with obstruct police.”

The trio were all dealt with under the provisions of the Youth Justices Act.

Originally published as Castle Hill Girl Guides clubhouse in West End vandalised