The soldier’s rifle has been taken from Thirroul’s war memorial – and veterans want it back. Photo: Austinmer-Thirroul RSL sub-Branch.
The calculated defacement of the oldest war memorial in the Illawarra has left veterans “devastated”.
Will Lee, president of the Aunstinmer-Thirroul RSL sub-Branch, discovered the damage when he went to put the finishing touches on two new memorial plaques.
He noticed that overnight the wooden rifle held by the soldier atop the monument in Woodward Memorial Park, Thirroul, had gone missing.
“I was absolutely devastated,” he said.
“You don’t know what to say after something like this happens.
“Two of our former members have died over the past six months; it’s their plaques I was putting up, and they would have been gutted.
“It’s five metres up in the air; for someone to climb up there and remove it they had to go to a lot of trouble.”
The memorial on the corner of Lawrence Hargrave Drive and Railway Parade was built in 1919.
Mrs Arnold Higgins laid the foundation stone on 18 October 1919 and the official unveiling was performed by Mrs ‘Grannie’ Riach on Anzac Day, 25 April 1920.
It is dedicated to local members of the Australian Defence Force who fought and died in various campaigns during World War I.
Mr Lee said the park was well used and the memorial was floodlit.
Despite the high visibility, and the height, just a few years ago someone climbed up and broke the rifle.
It was replaced by Wollongong City Council, and RSL members hoped the replacement would last many years.
The missing wooden rifle has been reported to NSW Police and Wollongong City Council.
Mr Lee urged anyone with information about the theft to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
If caught, the offenders could face stiff punishments.
After the Anzac Memorial in Hyde Park was vandalised the NSW Government introduced the Crimes Legislation Amendment (War Memorial Offences) Bill.
The bill will increase the maximum penalty for aggravated property damage from five to seven years’ imprisonment for people who intentionally or recklessly damage a war memorial.
It will also introduce a discretionary compensation order.
“Our veterans should be celebrated,” a spokesperson for the Minns Government said.
“Their memories do not deserve to be desecrated.”
