By Callum Ludwig
Millgrove Preschool has been the victim of a disappointing act of vandalism on the eve of their return for 2023.
Part of the fence has been broken down and the front safety lock smashed off over the weekend in the area where kids would normally spend their lunchtime.
CEO of Yarra Ranges Kinders Gaby Thomson said she, unfortunately, thinks it’s a case of four young people getting bored.
“They obviously didn’t want to break in and steal anything because there are plants out the front that they could have thrown through a glass window, so they just decided to smash the lock and push down the gate,” she said.
“There was also damage and graffiti at the new clubrooms and signage at the oval as well sadly.”
It hasn’t been the only vandalism incident suffered by Yarra Ranges Kinders recently, with recent rainbow stickers at the head office in Lilydale left graffitied with hateful messages the night after they were put up.
Ms Thomson said kinders are supposed to be a welcoming, bright, happy and friendly place for children and their families.
“Unfortunately, kinders are attacked semi-regularly and it’s just not a good look, as well as being an additional cost to fix that would have otherwise gone towards the kinder. I’m really disappointed,” she said.
“I would’ve thought we are a more modern society now, we’re raising children differently and part of our child safe standards is very much about making sure that children that potentially may be LGBTQIA+ feel comfortable.”
Children at Millgrove Preschool will be kept away from the broken fence area until it is fixed.
