Vandals use stolen 4WD to wreck pitch

By Tania Martin
SHERBROOKE Ranges Junior Soccer Club was forced to change venues for four of its weekend matches after vandals ripped up the pitch at Baynes Park Reserve in Monbulk.
Four of the matches where played at Emerald Secondary College after the club discovered the pitch had been damage on Tuesday last week.
Club secretary David Ceeney said it was disappointing that the ground had been vandalised.
He said the pitched had been ripped up by a four-wheel drive and that one of the goals had also been damaged.
Mr Ceeney believes the vandals tied a rope to the goal and the four-wheel drive and ripped the goal out of the ground.
“It’s just disappointing that someone would do this to the kids,” he said.
Senior Constable David Creek of Monbulk Police said a stolen four-wheel drive and the vandalism of the reserve had been linked.
He said a Nissan Patrol four-wheeled drive was stolen from the rear of the Uptech service centre in Main Street, Monbulk, between 3pm on Monday, 11 June and 7am Tuesday, 12 June.
Sen Const Creek said the offenders climbed over a cyclone fence at Uptech before stealing the four-wheel drive.
He said they drove the vehicle through the locked cyclone fence and on to Baynes Park reserve.
Sen Constable Creek said the four-wheel drive was then left at the reserve.
Mr Ceeney said it was only fortunate that the Emerald Secondary College was available to take the games originally scheduled to be played at Baynes Park.
He says if the ground doesn’t recover quickly the club might have to cancel some games because the Emerald pitch won’t be available every week.
But shire spokesman David Ashton said the ground should be fixed in time for this week’s games.
He said the shire has repaired the pitch using harrows to disperse the wheel marks and levelled out the surface.
Sen Const Creek said anyone who may have seen or heard anything should contact the police on 9756 6266.