The Clarence Town community has been left reeling following the vandalism of the town’s cenotaph.
Dungog Police are appealing for information from the public on the identity of the culprits who desecrated the World War I memorial on the corner of Queen and Grey Streets in Clarence Town.
The community is outraged,”
- Clarence Town Anzac Day organising committee president Ron Chaffey.
“A black paint marker or texta was used to deface the polished granite portion of the cenotaph with a graffiti tag,” said Snr Const Dave Hanna.
“The markings were made directly over the top of the engraved names of fallen soldiers from the local area.”
The vandalism was found on the afternoon of Friday June 2 by a concerned resident who notified the President of the Clarence Town Anzac Day committee, Ron Chaffey.
Mr Chaffey and the committee secretary Di Tanner-Bennett inspected the memorial on Friday night before Mr Chaffey cleaned it early Saturday morning.
“The community is outraged,” said Mr Chaffey.
“As an ex-servicemen I’m deeply upset and so is the community.
“This is a serious offence with serious repercussions.
“Thankfully the graffiti came off but it has left some residue on the letters of one of the names.”
The committee has applied for grants to refurbish the town’s three war memorials. Dungog Police are appealing for anyone with information to contact them immediately on 4992 3004.
