By Callum Ludwig
A disgraceful act of vandalism has devastated and infuriated members of the Seville community and veterans of the Yarra Ranges.
In the morning of Friday 15 September it was discovered that the Seville War Memorial had been attacked, likely with a blunt object, shatterering the glass panels.
Derry Aulich from the Seville Township Group said they’re appealing for anyone from the community to come forward if they saw anything.
“We’re devastated after fundraising for over seven years for the memorial to have been hit with such senseless vandalism,” he said.
“I’m lost for words, it’s just mind-boggling that anyone could even do this to such an important thing for the community.”
The most damaged panels after the outward-facing panel honouring Bruce Bethune and the inward-facing panel about Victoria Cross recipient George Ingram. They could cost as much as $100,000 to replace.
Bruce Bethune’s nephew Alistair Johnson was the one to discover the offence and said the emotions that went through him were disbelief, anger and disgust.
“My mother and grandmother never had the opportunity to visit my uncle’s grave in Papua New Guinea, to us this is where we remember my uncle,” he said.
“I’m just disgusted that somebody would desecrate what is basically a memorial to my uncle and the only place that we can remember him, I come down the road every day and I glance at it.”
Mt Evelyn RSL President Matt Crymble said the memorial is a sacred ground.
“Mt Evelyn RSL are absolutely disgusted with what’s happened, we condemn this vandalism and we don’t understand why anyone would do it,” he said.
“Those four individuals that are up there now defended the land and the way we live today and someone’s attacked that, hopefully, we can find the perpetrators and they can be punished by law.”
The Yarra Ranges Crime Investigation Unit (CIU) is investigating the incident, with Crime Scene Services attending the site after the damage was discovered.
Senior Sergeant at Lilydale Police Station Mark Knight said police are disappointed in the reprehensible behaviour of the person or persons who committed this crime.
“To do this against such a magnificent monument that was put there to honour our magnificent men and women who went off and fought in different wars, we are bitterly disappointed,” he said.
“We are seeking the general public’s assistance on this, trying to identify any persons of interest to assist us with our inquiries.”
Anyone with any information or CCTV footage is urged to contact Yarra Ranges CIU 9739 2401 or submit a report anonymously online to Crime Stoppers.
