Vandals torch rocking horse

By Melissa Grant
SENSELESS vandals targeted community facilities in Pakenham last week, smashing windows at the Pakenham Guides Hall and setting a rocking horse alight at a kindergarten.
Those associated with the facilities say they are “fed up” with property being destroyed and have urged those responsible to think twice about their actions.
Staff at Pakenham Kindergarten in Main Street are devastated after vandals set alight a rocking horse donated in memory of a former pre-schooler.
Lindy Downes, president of the kindergarten, discovered the burnt rocking horse when she arrived at the facility last Thursday.
The same morning, Pakenham Guides leader Sonya Boloski visited the group’s hall on Henry Street only to find windows had been smashed and make-up and camping and sporting equipment stolen.
It was the third time the hall had been vandalised in 12 months.
“We’ve had a gutful of it,” Ms Boloski said.
Mrs Downes said the “senseless act” at the kindergarten occurred just weeks after fence palings were kicked in at the premises and feared that vandals would strike again.
“They obviously don’t care about what impact their actions have on the community,” she said.
“This is all we need if they keep coming back.”
Mrs Downes said “David” the rocking horse had been a valued possession of the kindergarten since 1980.
“It was presented at the silver jubilee celebrations by the then committee on behalf of a kinder family whose little boy who attended kinder sadly passed away that year,” she said.
“People don’t realise his history.”
Ms Boloski said about $1000 worth of items had been taken from the Guides Hall and estimated the damage bill would be about the same.
She said it was disappointing that there were people out there who would target not-for-profit facilities.
“We’ve had to close it to groups like the CWA (Country Women’s Association) … we hate it when we have to ring these older people up and say you can’t use the hall,” she said.
“If you want to damage something, damage your own home.”
Senior Sergeant Trevor Teer of Pakenham Police said there had been two incidents in Main Street over the festive period.
Rear doors were super glued at a pizza shop on Christmas Day and a man punched a window at a Main Street premises on 19 December.
He said police had begun targeted patrols and that the amount of vandalism in Pakenham was reducing.
Anyone with information about vandalism at Pakenham Kindergarten in Main Street or the Pakenham Guides Hall can call Pakenham Police on 5945 2500.