Anzac Day: ‘Abhorrent’ act by statue vandals in western Sydney

A statue of 19th century NSW governor Lachlan Macquarie was defaced during an Anzac Day dawn service in the Hawkesbury in NSW.

The statue was attacked during the dawn service. Picture: Facebook

A statue of 19th century NSW governor Lachlan Macquarie was defaced during an Anzac Day dawn service in the Hawkesbury in NSW.

The figure, which stands at McQuade Park in Windsor, was doused in red paint. The words “here stands a mass murderer who ordered the genocide” and “no pride to genocide” were scrawled in black paint on its base.

Governor Macquarie was previously a lieutenant ­colonel in the British Army.

Police are investigating the vandalism, which they believe ­occurred between 6am and 7am on Tuesday. A member of the ­public first spotted the graffiti at 7.30am.

Hawkesbury district RSL sub-branch president Paul Hibbins said “it was pretty shocking to see” and made worse by the fact it was ­carried out on Anzac Day. “It takes away from the day and it doesn’t help the cause at all,” he said. “With the timing, it ­appears they have done it during the dawn service … I just don’t understand what the motivation is.”

Mayor Sarah McMahon said this kind of anti-social behaviour had “no place” in Australia, ­especially on such a special day and in a military community.

“There were 5000 people ­attending the dawn service at Windsor,” she said. “For the end of that ceremony to conclude and to see the de­struction of the statue behind us … was abhorrent.”