Ghetto

By Kath Gannaway
HEALESVILLE faces the prospect of deteriorating into a town akin to “some inner city ghetto” if graffiti vandalism is not stopped.
The indictment came from Healesville artist Dennis Foote, whose mural on the wall of the Healesville Outdoor Pool was included in a rash of graffiti attacks on signs, play equipment, buildings, footpaths and other features around the town over the school holidays.
Healesville police were last week interviewing a group of young people regarding the explosion of graffiti around the town over the past month.
Sgt Tony Van Gorp said investigations were continuing but revealed that more than one member of the group, who are aged between 13 and 16, had pleaded boredom … “nothing to else to do”.
It’s an excuse Mr Foote may find a bit hard to swallow.
In a letter to the Mail last week he expressed his disgust at the attack on the mural that he and another artist painted as part of a community art project 13 years ago.
He said the mural, which includes indigenous-style artwork of native animals, has been part of the every-day experience for youngsters attending the kindergarten opposite, and for visitors to Queen’s Park.
“I’m heartbroken over the destruction of a mural which was a community arts project that really brightened up a very dull red brick wall,” he said.
He said the mural had remained virtually untouched by vandals over the years.
“This latest attack is devastating and I don’t know if it can be rectified,” Mr Foote told the Mail as he looked over the damage.
Healesville residents Val Owen and Michelle Gibbs also contacted the Mail, alarmed at the sudden increase in graffiti.
Ms Owen called for the Shire of Yarra Ranges to take a leaf out of Casey Council’s book and adopt a “zero tolerance” approach to graffiti.
“Casey Council cleans up private and public property but our council will only clean off shire-owned buildings,” she said.
Ms Owen said the onus was then on private property owners and other responsible bodies to remove graffiti which she said was not always done quickly.
Ms Gibbs said if young people were found to be responsible they needed to be made accountable for their actions.
“They need to be made aware of the fact that you can’t go around polluting the area you live in.
“I would like to see them being made to clean it up,” she said.
She also called for parents to be made accountable.
“If kids are out at two, three and four in the morning then parents need to know what they are doing and be responsible for that,” she said.
Launching graffiti removal kits last year Yarra Ranges mayor Tim Heenan said experience had shown that if graffiti is removed almost immediately it reduces the chances of it reappearing.
The kits are made available free of charge to private residents but commercial operations pay a small fee.
The shire has condemned illegal graffiti as an ongoing cost to ratepayers in the past while at the same time involving young people in art-type programs as part of its approach to reducing graffiti.
Mr Foote also mused that artistic energy might be more productively harnessed by young people getting involved in art classes but said the graffiti he had seen around the town was mindless vandalism rather than artistic talent.
“I think you can see good work in certain places around the city, but you still see where people spray over it. Like this, it’s just shows a lack of respect for other artists,” he said.
Mr Foote has called for a town meeting to address the problem.
Residents can report grafitti on-line at www.yarraranges.vic.gov.au or contact the shire on 1300 368 333.