War memorials in western Victoria vandalized, sparking community devastation

The small communities of Dobie and Beaufort in western Victoria are reeling after two of their cherished war memorials were defaced within a month. The vandalism has left residents "devastated," according to Ararat Rural City Council Mayor Bob Sanders.

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People are just devastated, we're all really devastated.

In Dobie, a plaque commemorating local veterans was stolen from a memorial stone, which was then spray-painted with an Aboriginal flag and the words "land back." The concrete plinth was also defaced with "lest we forget the frontier wars" in red paint. The vandals also damaged surrounding plants and trees.

This incident follows a similar act of vandalism in the neighboring town of Beaufort just over a month prior, where a century-old memorial was spray-painted with slogans including "death to Australia," "death to the ADF," "land back," and "blood on your hands."

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It's that sort of thing that doesn't do anybody any good.

Ararat Rural City Council is undertaking cleaning works to remove the graffiti. Victoria Police are investigating both incidents. Mayor Sanders emphasized that such desecration does not serve any cause and only serves to alienate people. The community's grief is compounded by the destruction of these sites, which hold deep significance for those who remember the sacrifices made.

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They both have been defaced quite badly and the one with the plaque has been ripped off and it's gone.

Both memorials are important symbols for the local communities, honoring those who died at war. The theft of the plaque and the defacement of the stones represent a significant loss and a source of deep distress for residents who value these tributes.

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[The offenders] have also ripped out plants that were around the memorial and some trees.