By Mikayla van Loon
In what was described as a “mindless” act by war veterans, the Montrose War Memorial was vandalised last week, coming to the attention of the Mount Evelyn RSL on Monday 20 February.
An image, appearing to be in the shape of a love heart, was scratched into the marble base of the historic marker which will result in expensive repairs for the RSL.
RSL vice president and piper Iain Townsley said this was not the first time a war memorial was defaced in the local community but it was still disheartening.
“They’re sacred places. Their purpose is to serve as a constant reminder of the local people who have died in conflict since the Great War of 1914-18 far from their families and Australia,” he said.
“These memorials are not intended to, and nor do they, glamorise war but serve as a focal point for both individual and group reflection, especially at times like Anzac Day and Remembrance Day. But there need be no special time for a quiet moment of respect and contemplation.”
Mr Townsley said while it might be more common these days to call them a memorial, traditionally they were referred to as a cenotaph, meaning empty tomb in ancient Greek.
“A lot of Australians don’t realise no one came back from the Great War so they’re all buried in foreign lands and those names are the only things we’ve got,” he said.
“Those people’s parents couldn’t afford to go to Europe to visit their grave so the only thing they’ve got to look at is the memorial…[and] if someone was to sit and think about that, it is quite sad.”
Possibly putting it down to a lack of education regarding the significance of the cenotaph and its purpose in “[linking] the past to the present [as] a reminder of the service, sacrifice and courage of the names engraved”.
With the turbulent and hostile environment happening overseas, Mr Townsley said it was not too far out of the question to “see another generation in the near future being called to go to war”.
“We forget in Australia they’ve got another war in Europe, which if that escalates, that’s going worldwide and it is a close.”
With an estimate of $500 to repair the damage, Mr Townsley said Mount Evelyn RSL received a generous offer from Methven Professionals Real Estate in Mooroolbark to pay for the repairs.
Although Mr Townsley said the RSL could have found the funds within the club to pay for it themselves if needed, it would have meant money would be redirected from welfare.
“We will stay on top of [the vandalism], it’s just sad we have to redirect funds which could be going to the welfare of people in the community who aren’t travelling so well.
“It is the RSL along with local authorities that are responsible for the upkeep of these memorials and those that vandalise them demonstrate a total disregard and disrespect for their community.”
