By Kath Gannaway
COMMITTEE members of the Badger Creek Old School Building were left to clean up a vile mess left by vandals last week.
And Yarra Ranges ratepayers will be picking up the tab to replace smashed window frames and security screens.
Committee chairman Arthur Harford said he was notified late Monday afternoon of the damage to the building and estimated it could cost up to $2000 to repair.
He said the screens had been ripped from two windows, damaging the frames, sometime over the weekend of 17 and 18 October.
The perpetrators then smashed the windows to gain entry and went on a drinking binge, vomiting on the floor before they left.
“It’s disgusting, but it’s also disappointing. In the 20 years the building has been here and used by the local community this is the first major incident of vandalism,” Mr Harford said.
Police from Healesville and the Croydon crime desk attended and would like to hear from anyone who can help with their inquiries, including information on a silver, aluminium-framed bike which was left at the building.
“We would like to speak to the owner of the bike. It may be that it was stolen, or used by the offenders to get to the hall,” Sgt Van Gorp said.
Healesville police can be contacted on 5962 4422.