Town slams ‘racist’ vandalism on shop

By MARA PATTISON-SOWDEN
WARBURTON residents are shocked and appalled at recent vandalism attacks on a new restaurant business, with some saying the attacks are race related.
But the community has rallied behind the Warburton Curry Club, planning a get-together to show its support, saying the attacks are “stupid, short-sighted and embarrassing”.
The Warburton Curry Club isn’t the first business in the Yarra Valley subjected to racial taunts over the past few years, but locals are certainly hoping it’s the last.
Police are currently investigating the incidents and ask anyone with information to contact them.
Indian nationals Sam Singh and Jimmy Singh opened the Warburton Curry Club at the start of the month next to the IGA, but their business has twice been subjected to vandalism.
Sam Singh said the first time, on Saturday 7 July he had come in to work in the morning to find rotten eggs covering the front windows.
The same thing happened overnight on Friday 13 July he said, but this time bricks had also been thrown at the windows, causing damage.
“The first time we just cleaned up and didn’t say anymore, but last week there were five bricks on the windows – luckily the glass didn’t break,” he said.
“There was also a wooden block with nails sitting at the door on the ground.”
Mr Singh called the vandalism a “mistake”: “it was a small mistake for them but I hope that it doesn’t get bigger”.
“The staff members say they can’t put their life in trouble,” he said.
The owners already run two successful restaurants in the outer eastern suburbs.
“We’ve never had problems in Ringwood or Bayswater but there is not a lot of multiculturalism up here compared to there,” he said.
“I’ve lived here (in Melbourne), studied here, never had any problems.
“I used to do deliveries up here in the valley so I know the area…we’ve got good support from the locals up here.”
Wesburn resident Jim Child alerted the community to the vandalism last week in a Facebook post.
“I can’t believe what is happening in Warburton, we have two very competent, conscientious Indian nationals that are making a tremendous contribution to local business and our town,” he said.
“But their new business Warburton Curry Club is being subjected to ongoing vandalism and what I can only explain as ‘racial taunts’.”
Mr Child told the Mail that people needed to be aware of what was happening.
“I told these guys, it’s not the Warburton community,” he said.
“I said to them, I’m on the Chamber of Commerce and we encourage you here, we’re right behind you.
“A few people have said to me, ‘we’re ashamed to think that our fellow Australians could be doing this sort of thing’.”
Mr Child said community members had also conveyed their disgust to him, as well as on Facebook.
“The phone calls, I’ve had a few, have said ‘how are we being portrayed as far as the townships and residents?’
“I said we’re right behind them and very supportive and we’ve been expressing that we’re ashamed on behalf of them.”
More than 30 people have commented on the posts, both on Mr Child’s Facebook page and the Warburton Network page, leaving messages such as “this behaviour is stupid, short-sighted and embarrassing”, “that’s embarrassing and horrible”, and “for every redneck in town there are tens of wonderful people like us who appreciate cultural diversity and the richness it can bring to a community”.
Police are aware of the incidents and say investigations are ongoing. Anyone with information should contact the Lilydale Criminal Investigation Unit on 9739 2362.