Tuesday, 14 November 2023

 Bridget VALLENCE (Evelyn) (13:03): I thank and praise the Montrose community for showing tremendous spirit, respect and unity. On Remembrance Day locals awoke to find the Montrose cenotaph and war memorial desecrated with political vandalism. The desecration of the Montrose war memorial was despicable and shameful. Remembrance Day is sacred for veterans and our community to gather to commemorate the 103,000 Australians who have made the ultimate sacrifice – lost their lives protecting our community and freedoms in wars and peacekeeping missions. The vandalism of Montrose cenotaph on Remembrance Day was an insult not only to our community but to our many surviving veterans. There is no place in our community for those who seek to spread hatred and division, and we cannot allow the conflict in the Middle East to bring this kind of hatred and toxicity into our local communities. It will do nothing to address the humanitarian situation in that region.

Thanks to the exceptionally swift response of Yarra Ranges council to remove the hateful graffiti before 11 am, the service was able to proceed. I praise the Montrose community, who conducted a wonderful service attended by around 140 local residents, in particular Max Lamb and the volunteers of the Montrose Township Group. I also want to thank Anthony McAleer, Matt Crymble and Bill Dobson of Mount Evelyn and Lilydale RSLs, who passionately advocate for their members and who I will continue to work with to stamp out increasing vandalism of war memorials across the Yarra Ranges.