Vandals deface Sunshine war memorial

Kevin Wanders and RSL president David Twidle. Picture: Shawn Smits

A returned serviceman says he’s disappointed with the disregard shown by vandals who defaced a memorial at Sunshine.

Kevin Wanders, 81, was walking home from Remembrance Day celebrations at the Sunshine RSL when he noticed that the commemorative plaque at the Kevin Wheelahan Gardens had been covered in graffiti.

The plaque, which lists the names of fallen war veterans from Sunshine, was installed at the dedicated Sunshine RSL Memorial Garden in April to mark the Anzac centenary.

“It was very disappointing to see it was tagged all over,” Mr Wanders said.

“That’s just not good enough. The names of the soldiers who fought for Australia in the First World War are on there. I take it very personally.

“And I’m sure that every person whose family member is on there would be very disappointed also.”

Mr Wanders served in the Australian army as a weapons transport driver from 1953. He was based at Puckapunyal and served in Vietnam.

“Military service was just something we had to do in those days,” he said. “It was a way of life and it meant a lot to me. I will always hold memories of those times.”

He said Brimbank council would organise a clean-up of the plaque.