An ANZAC Day Eve vandalism patrol is in place at the Lawson War Memorial by Blue Mountains Police and council after vandals trashed the arch on two occasions in the past week.
Members of the Lawson Combined Services Club (who formed in 1989 when the RSL sub-branch closed) found graffiti on the sandstone memorial at Honour Avenue on Friday afternoon. The archway was then vandalised again, this time on all sides, a day later.
“I am sad to say that the memorial arch has been vandalised,” the disappointed secretary, Glen Benson, told the Gazette. “But it won’t stop our service.”
“The style of the stuff, although I’m no expert, but even the police said, it’s probably kids.”
Blue Mountains Council worked to remove the graffiti writing and pictures “which was done in texta” over the weekend and early on Monday from the 94-year-old monument, Mr Benson said.
The memorial was also vandalised last year.
Katoomba police officers are investigating the matter, taking photos of the damage and the Combined Services Club is hopeful they will find the culprits quickly.
A council spokeswoman said their night patrol was a bid “to minimise, and respond to, any further potential vandalism overnight prior to the dawn service”.
“Council routinely undertakes a number of maintenance tasks prior to each ANZAC Day and Remembrance Day including jetwashing the cenotaphs; checking the flagpoles; and connecting power on site for the ceremonies. Also, council staff keep an eye on the memorials the day before each of these events.”
Blue Mountains Crime Manager, Detective Chief Inspector Dietmar Almer, said police patrols were “always stepped up a couple of days out from ANZAC Day”.
“Cars have been tasked at the morning meeting today for day-shift and night-shift to patrol all of the ANZAC Day locations across the Mountains. Particular attention is made of the night-shift patrols to ensure that the day’s events are not hindered.”
Inspector Almer said the investigation was ongoing and if found, the penalty for the offenders potentially carried a five year jail term.
“It is a disgrace [and] very disappointing that in this instance the offender/s chose to deface and damage a memorial in honour of the men and women that sacrificed their lives to defend our nation and other nations around the world and give us the very freedoms and life that we currently enjoy,” he said.
“It is even more disgraceful that the damage was caused days out of a national day of remembrance being ANZAC Day. If the shoe was on the other foot I have no doubt they would be the first to complain if a tombstone or memorial for one of their loved ones was defaced and damaged."
The community also reacted strongly on the Lawson Combined Services Club's social media pages to the news of the vandalism.
David Chapman called it “utter disrespect” adding “Love to see them caught and put in a room with veterans and families of those who paid the ultimate sacrifice to explain why they did this”.
Blue Mountains Mayor Mark Greenhill issued a statement on the damage.
"The spirit of ANZAC is sacred. No matter the theatre of war, we hold the sacrifice of service men and women close to our hearts.
"This vandalism is deeply unacceptable. So close to ANZAC Day it is utterly appalling.
"On behalf of the whole community I want to express deep sorrow that this has happened.
"Council is helping to remedy it now.
"To those responsible, I want to ask that they understand the deep, deep wrong they have perpetrated. I ask that they hang their heads in shame. If caught, I hope they face the fullest sanction the law can prove for."