THE Tamworth RSL sub-branch has called-on “cowardly” vandals to have some conviction and put their names to a fresh attack on an Anzac Park memorial.
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It was brought to The Leader’s attention on Thursday afternoon someone had filed down one of the mountainous peaks on the Sandakan memorial and hacked into another peak.
Sub-branch vice-president Sandra Lambkin was gutted to hear another attack had been carried out at Anzac Park.
But she said had a strong message for the culprit.
“I’m absolutely horrified,” she told The Leader.
“I simply don’t understand the mindset.
“But if you have a problem with returned or ex-service people, or you have a beef with the Tamworth RSL, or the people of Tamworth in particular, have the strength of your conviction and leave your name behind.”
Mrs Lambkin added whoever targeted the monument was an “absolute coward”, but said she had “no idea” who could be behind it.
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She said the bronze scale Sandakan monument was one of only 12 of its type in Australia and there would be no way it could be fixed.
Mrs Lambkin, who is also a NSW RSL state councillor, said it held particular significance for the region.
“The 8 Division were raised mainly around the region,” she said.
“They were taken as prisoners of war at the fall of Singapore.”
According the NSW war memorial register, Tamworth was selected as a site of the northern region memorial because of its geographical location within the North West of the state and it claimed over 150 men of the northern region died at Sandakan and Ranua.
The Anzac Park Sandakan monument was unveiled and dedicated in 1994 by the chairman of the Sandakan Memorial Foundation, Father John Rogers.
The Leader contacted Tamworth police regarding the vandalism and launched an investigation into the incident.
The World War I honour rolls on the gates at the Brisbane Street entrance to the park were defaced ahead of Anzac Day.