By Taylah Eastwell
Upper Yarra SES volunteers have suffered a second blow in just over a week, with graffiti vandals defacing the Wesburn unit just eight days after a heartbreaking robbery.
Members arrived at the Warburton Highway unit on Thursday 7 January to prepare for their return to training next week, only to find the shed had been plastered with graffiti.
The Star Mail previously reported Upper Yarra SES were broken into overnight on Wednesday 30 December. Thieves stripped the unit of critical life-saving equipment worth over $20,000, including hydraulic cutters, better known as the ‘jaws of life’, two chainsaws, a hydraulic pump and a hose.
The Upper Yarra unit is made up of entirely unpaid volunteers who sacrifice their time to help serve their community when times get tough.
Upper Yarra SES Unit Controller Michael Young said the selfless volunteers are “over it.”
“Just for it to happen a week after being broken into, it hurts,” he said.
Mr Young said he had spoken to those higher up in the SES who were going to try and work something out for the removal of the graffiti. Mr Young also plans to approach Yarra Ranges Council to see if the graffiti can be removed.
“If both of those fail, we’re going to have to scrub it off or paint over it at a cost from fundraising, yet again” he said.
“The volunteers just want to do what they do, not have to try and fundraise every other day,” he said.
The shed has been a target for graffiti vandals for years, according to Mr Young. A government grant gave the entire shed a fresh coat of paint around three years ago, but it took less than four weeks for vandals to again tag the fresh green shed walls.
“We get it. 2020 was crap, times are rough. But don’t take your frustration or boredom out on people who sacrifice their own time to help the community. Get a hobby. Get a life. Leave us alone,” a Facebook post by Upper Yarra SES reads.
Not typically ones to ask for help, Upper Yarra SES have this time created a Give Now fundraiser to help the unit purchase some security cameras.
Donations can be made at https://www.givenow.com.au/upperyarrases
Anyone with any information is urged to contact Lilydale Police on 03 9739 2300.
