Heartbreaking!

By Kath Gannaway
VANDALS have overstepped the mark with their latest attacks along the Yarra River in Warburton.
When 87-year-old Warburton stalwart Ted Chisholm was told that trees he and two mates planted three years ago had been chopped off at the base, he said it broke his heart.
Ted is widely recognised as the driving force behind a group of volunteers known as “the river crew”.
As part of the Warburton Advancement League (WAL), the crew, Ted and his friends, have transformed the banks of the Yarra River over the past 15 years putting in walking paths, seating and trees.
It was bad enough that three weeks ago, while Ted was recovering from an accident in hospital, WAL president Jesse James had to break the bad news that seats, barbecues and drinking fountains in Chisholm Park had been covered in paint.
For Ted and his friends the mindless destruction of the trees was even harder to take.
“We bought and planted the trees and reckoned we had a tree each which would give a bit of shade for people in years to come,” Ted said.
“They were just starting to look good. I visualised how that area would turn into another great area for everyone to enjoy with shade in the paddocks.
“With the paint, you can fix it,” he said.
“But we can’t replant now, it’s just too dry. This sort of thing puts you three years behind.”
Baden Berry, chairman of Upper Yarra Valley and Warburton Tourism, decried the actions as mindless.
“Ted is the public face of a great band of workers who have visibly changed Warburton for us all,” he said.
“They should be showing him more respect.”
Mr Berry said he saw Mr James hard at work removing the paint the morning after he had chaired the league’s AGM.
“It made me think of what a thankless task it is when you see this sort of mindless vandalism,” Mr Berry said.
“It takes no effort at all to vandalise something but a hell of a lot of effort to actually create something which makes this a better place for us all to live in.
“It’s disappointing when that can be ruined in a mad fling of just a few minutes.”
Mr Berry said it should be remembered that the work Ted and his crew do around the town is not just good for visitors.
“It’s good for us as residents of the town. We like to go and have a sit by the river and we don’t want it spoiled.
“Rarely do these people get thanked for what they do but you hope they know that everyone appreciates it.”
Mr James has appealed to anyone who has information about vandalism to contact Warburton Police.
“These are not just spur of the moment things. With the amount of paint splashed around the park somebody has gone home with paint on them,” he said.
“We’re hoping that if a parent or friend knows who is responsible for this they will be prompted to do the right thing.”
Warburton Police can be contacted on 5966 2006.