Clubs’ home trashed
VANDALS have left two sporting clubs counting the cost of the second attack on their premises in just weeks.
The shared clubhouse of Mulgrave Cricket and Southside Comets was trashed at the weekend.
“You put effort into growing something, and then these people come along and destroy it,” Comets coach Dion Readman said.
TWO sports clubs have been left reeling after their shared clubhouse was broken into for the second time in three weeks.
The Southside Comets Football Club and the Mulgrave Cricket Club’s volunteers had just finished clearing up after vandals broke into their shared clubhouse on February 10.
During that round of vandalism a trophy cabinet had been smashed, fridges had been destroyed, scoreboards, microwaves, the PA system and furniture damaged, and human faeces was found on the floor.
The damage bill was estimated to be around $20,000, which is why Saturday’s break and enter was particularly devastating for the clubs.
Comets football coach Dion Readman said it felt like they were going in circles when he saw they had been broken into again on Sunday morning.
“You take a couple of steps forward, then you have to take a huge step back,” he said.
“Off season was going really well, and then a couple of weeks ago we got smashed.
“At that point we only had one little fridge left, so we couldn’t host junior games, and now the little fridge we had left was smashed up.”
He said it was “very demoralising” for volunteers.
“You put effort into growing something, and then these people come along and destroy it,” he said. “Everyone’s sick of it. If it continues, clubs like this won’t exist.”
He said it was particularly disappointing for the community that it affected.
“Everyone loves sport, that’s why we’re here, but it’s just unsustainable,” he said.
“If it was because they were hungry and they just wanted some food, that I could understand, but this wasn't because someone was hungry.”
A police spokesman said the intruders broke in between 7pm on Saturday night and 6.30am yesterday.
He said they went through the contents of the clubhouse, knocked over benches, and pushed over the fridge. It was possible food and drink were stolen from the clubhouse, and that police were investigating.
Pyramid Power AFL and Sporting Club at Gordonvale was the target of vandals and an arsonist on January 25, suffering about $100,000 worth of damage to its clubhouse and property inside.
The Atherton Tablelands Hockey Association clubhouse at Loder Park was also broken into and vandalised in January.