Hoons target Clarence Anzac park, sports oval in night of destruction
The disgraceful vandalism of a Tasmanian war memorial by hoons has left a local RSL president asking how people could commit such a senseless act. But the hoons did not stop there. DETAILS >
Tasmania
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The Lindisfarne Anzac park is usually a place of peace, where the families of those who made the ultimate sacrifice for their country can pay their respects.
But that peace was shattered in the early hours of Friday morning when hoons smashed their way through the wooden barriers and tore up the usually well-kept lawns.
After surveying the damage Lindisfarne RSL president Chris Parker was left at a loss as to what would motivate someone to commit such a senseless act – one month before Anzac Day.
“In 30 years of my involvement, we have never, ever seen one ounce of interference with anything – except for last night,” Mr Parker said.
The damage to the park, Mr Parker estimated, was caused by at least two vehicles and would cost between $5000 to $10,000 to repair.
But the destruction did not end there, with the hoons also targeting a popular Geilston Bay oval that same night.
Geilston Bay resident John Gough said he heard the ruckus at about 2.45am.
“They (hoons) did the same area about 18 months ago, and the grounds just recovered; it’s hard to get tyre marks out of the oval, and it’s taken so long to recover, and now two weeks before they start their soccer games (it happens again),” Mr Gough said.
Mr Gough said the hoons had smashed their way in and out through a barrier made of pine logs that surrounded the oval – the same way they’d broken through the barrier at Anzac park.
The force of the vandals to get on to the grassy areas left Mr Parker to believe the acts were committed with intent to cause damage.
“They had an intent to cause vandalism, it’s absolutely deliberate,” he said.
“They might have got a euphoric feeling for themselves, but they’ve just destroyed the oval for the young boys and girls that use it for their sporting activity,
“I just don’t understand why.”
He said the “devastating” act had ripped the lawn out in front of the cenotaph.
“The Lindisfarne RSL and Clarence City Council over a long period of time have built it up into one of the better remembrance precincts in Tasmania,
“(The hoons) came very, very close to the remembrance precinct – a place for people to come and remember their lost brothers and sons – I don’t understand it.”
The incidents were reported to police.
Clarence City Council Mayor Brendan Blomeley said the vandalism was “extremely disappointing and unacceptable”.
“It is truly upsetting to see such disrespect shown towards a very significant site which honours those who made great sacrifices for our country – it is especially disheartening as we are fast approaching Anzac Day,” Mr Blomeley said.
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