Skate ramp dedicated to missing skateboarder Trent Riley vandalised at Morayfield Skate Park

The family of a talented skateboarder and fisherman whose disappearance sparked a massive offshore search effort has slammed a senseless act of vandalism to a memorial in his honour.

The skate ramp dedicated to Trent Riley at the recently upgraded Morayfield Skate Park has been vandalised.

A skate ramp dedicated to the memory of skateboard champion Trent Riley has been damaged in a vandalism incident at Morayfield Skate Park, leaving his family devastated.

Trent went missing in Moreton Bay in 2021, with his boat found unmanned near Mud Island on April 14 that year after his worried family alerted authorities.

Trent Riley went missing in Moreton Bay and has never been found.

His disappearance sparked a major operation that resulted in hundreds of people joining his family and emergency services in a gruelling search effort.

Emergency services including Water Police, as well as the Coast Guard, Volunteer Marine Rescue, and volunteers from the fishing and skating communities searched the bay for more than a week, before the search effort was called off on April 25, 2021.

Trent Riley was a keen fisherman.

Trent’s body has never been found.

To honour his memory as a talented skateboarder, a skate ramp at the recently upgraded Morayfield Skate Park was dedicated to him.

The new vert ramp featured murals of Mr Riley, who was a popular member of the local skateboarding community.

Four months after it was opened to the public, the skate ramp has been damaged in an act of vandalism.

Trent Riley's sister Zara and brother Louis beside the vandalised skate ramp.

Trent’s sister Zara said her family are upset at the discovery.

“It may just be a picture to you, but it’s a memorial for our brother,” she said.

“It would be good if people could show some empathy and respect – a significant amount of work was put into the tribute and improvements at the skate park, which were only finished a few months ago.”

Trent’s brother Louis said if the people who did the graffiti knew what the memorial represented “they might not have done it”.

“There was a little bit of graffiti on the memorial and there were multiple panels that had been ripped off and it didn’t look in the best state either,” he said.

“It’s obviously not that cool to graffiti a memorial.”

The graffiti on the vandalised skate ramp.

Louis added that the memorial has special meaning to his family.

“It’s just really special to us, because we grew up skating at that skate park,” he said.

“Now it’s a new skate park that other people can enjoy.”

City of Moreton Bay Mayor Peter Flannery said the vandalism was extremely disappointing for the Riley family and the wider community.

“It’s sad to see the ramp dedicated to Trent has been badly damaged in such a senseless act,” Mayor Flannery said.

“Particularly when we invested in a street art mural wall where people could paint and express their creativity.”

Mr Flannery said the repair bill is set to cost ratepayers between $15,000 and $20,000.

“Vandalism and graffiti are totally unacceptable and result in substantial clean-up and repair costs, which are ultimately borne by our ratepayers,” he said,

“In this case, the cost will total between $15,000 and $20,000.

“The repairs will also need to be done urgently, with World Skate Oceania set to host a competition at the skate park in early August.”

Local divisional councillor Adam Hain said he was horrified that such a terrific facility could be treated this way.

“It’s not only disrespectful for the community who were so excited about the new park, but most importantly for the family who have had to experience this insult,” Cr Hain said.

Originally published as Skate ramp dedicated to missing skateboarder Trent Riley vandalised at Morayfield Skate Park