Bigotry lives next door
A JEWISH resident fears his religion has made him a target for “anti-Semitic” attacks after a neighbour threw chunks of pork across the yard of his Armstrong Creek property.
Resident Jono Vandor told the Geelong Advertiser that he and his wife were distressed to find about a dozen pork pieces in their front yard in June.
Mr Vandor said he believed the attack had been a “deliberate act” by a neighbour in reference to his Jewish religion. “I was horrified,” he said. “As you know, Jews are not supposed to eat pork, but it goes an extra step in the Torah and says we can’t even touch the carcass of swine. “It was very traumatic.” He said he believed the person responsible was a neighbour who had previously directed foul language towards the couple.
Mr Vandor said he reported the incident to numerous authorities for help, including police and South Barwon MP Darren Cheeseman’s office, but the issue had been left unresolved.
Mr Cheeseman said the investigation was a police matter.
“I understand Victoria Police have been in contact with Mr Vandor and are providing assistance,” he said.
“Everyone in our community has a right to live free of harassment.”
The Addy can confirm police attended the incident, but no charges have been laid.
Locals have endured a string of nightmare neighbour incidents this year.
A Belmont man living in a public housing unit was charged earlier this year after allegedly tormenting his Jewish neighbour with antiSemitic slurs, including “Hey, Jew boy”.
The same man allegedly threatened his neighbour with a machete and hung a Nazi flag out the front of his unit.
Another Geelong woman told the Addy she feared she would be killed before receiving help to deal with a public housing neighbour after her numerous complaints to the Department of Health and Human Services had fallen on deaf ears.
A Dispute Resolution Victoria spokeswoman advised people who faced issues with their neighbours to contact the Dispute Settlement Centre of Victoria (DSCV), which offered mediation services for free, and could refer parties to a range of organisations such as VCAT and community legal centres.
The Geelong Advertiser attempted to contact the neighbour but did not receive a response.