Drizzt
April 20, 2003, 12:32 AM
Statue's rifle smashed in daylight attack
DANIELLE PERKINS
April 17, 2003
A WEEK before one of the RSL's biggest days of the year, Anzac Day, a vandal has smashed the rifle on the Warrnambool War Memorial statue.
The marble rifle, valued at between $4000 and $5000, was broken into dozens of pieces yesterday afternoon, leaving RSL members and police angry and seeking answers.
Warrnambool RSL sub-branch president Des Brown said the rifle was destroyed between 1.30 and 2.15pm yesterday.
"I walked into the club at 1.30pm and about 45 minutes later one of the staff got a phone call to say the rifle was missing," he said.
"We went and had a look and found the rifle had been smashed to pieces and was lying all over the ground."
Mr Brown said the vandalism was committed during daylight hours when many people were driving and walking around.
He said he was very disappointed by the attack and described the act as stupidity.
"I don't care how young or how old someone is, there is no excuse for this," he said.
"It is very disappointing that this happened so close to Anzac Day, but I am confident we can get a replacement between now and next week."
The rifle has been broken several times in the past and was smashed away from the statue by vandals in 1997, the fourth attack in half as many years.
It was stolen on Christmas Eve last year, but was returned intact by a remorseful Cobden man after he read widespread criticism of his actions in The Standard.
Yesterday, Warrnambool police Senior Sergeant Ian Armstrong said the incident, especially with Anzac Day approaching, was disgusting.
"And police would like to think that there is a witness or someone who could give us information that can help us solve this very serious crime," he said.
"The Warrnambool community deserves to be outraged by acts such as this."
Senior Sergeant Armstrong described the daylight attack as brazen.
http://the.standard.net.au/articles/2003/04/17/1050172686959.html
DANIELLE PERKINS
April 17, 2003
A WEEK before one of the RSL's biggest days of the year, Anzac Day, a vandal has smashed the rifle on the Warrnambool War Memorial statue.
The marble rifle, valued at between $4000 and $5000, was broken into dozens of pieces yesterday afternoon, leaving RSL members and police angry and seeking answers.
Warrnambool RSL sub-branch president Des Brown said the rifle was destroyed between 1.30 and 2.15pm yesterday.
"I walked into the club at 1.30pm and about 45 minutes later one of the staff got a phone call to say the rifle was missing," he said.
"We went and had a look and found the rifle had been smashed to pieces and was lying all over the ground."
Mr Brown said the vandalism was committed during daylight hours when many people were driving and walking around.
He said he was very disappointed by the attack and described the act as stupidity.
"I don't care how young or how old someone is, there is no excuse for this," he said.
"It is very disappointing that this happened so close to Anzac Day, but I am confident we can get a replacement between now and next week."
The rifle has been broken several times in the past and was smashed away from the statue by vandals in 1997, the fourth attack in half as many years.
It was stolen on Christmas Eve last year, but was returned intact by a remorseful Cobden man after he read widespread criticism of his actions in The Standard.
Yesterday, Warrnambool police Senior Sergeant Ian Armstrong said the incident, especially with Anzac Day approaching, was disgusting.
"And police would like to think that there is a witness or someone who could give us information that can help us solve this very serious crime," he said.
"The Warrnambool community deserves to be outraged by acts such as this."
Senior Sergeant Armstrong described the daylight attack as brazen.
http://the.standard.net.au/articles/2003/04/17/1050172686959.html